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Nylon flock dust

Respirable particulate generated when short nylon fibers are cut, processed, flocked, or removed from equipment.

Airborne form

fiber

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

interstitial lung diseaselung inflammationrespiratory symptomscoughshortness of breath

Evidence

The NIOSH flock-worker HHE concludes that respirable nylon shreds are a particular concern, that flock-associated dust presents a health hazard, and recommends exposure reduction, respiratory protection, and medical screening and surveillance.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 2 · Conclusions · 1
A health hazard exists from exposure to flock-associated dust at this plant ... Respirable nylon shreds are of particular concern ... Reduction of worker exposures to airborne dust ... together with implementation of a medical screening and surveillance program, is recommended to protect the health of workers at this plant.

NIOSH describes flock workers' lung as interstitial lung disease associated with flock dust and reports that flock exposure can cause inflammation and scarring that reduce the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Workplace Medical Mystery Solved · 2
Flock workers' lung is a form of interstitial lung disease sometimes seen among workers exposed to flock dust. Interstitial lung disease involves inflammation of the lung's air sacs and airways and scarring of tissue that causes the lungs to become stiff, small, and less effective at transferring oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out from the blood.

NIOSH's 2023 bulletin explains that flock workers' lung is an interstitial lung disease associated with flock dust and identifies nylon, rayon, acrylic, and polyester as examples of flock fibers; it describes inflammation and scarring that reduce gas exchange.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Workplace Medical Mystery Solved · 2
Flock workers' lung is a form of interstitial lung disease sometimes seen among workers exposed to flock dust ... Flock consists of short fibers that are cut from long filaments (e.g., nylon, rayon, acrylic, polyester).

A NIOSH occupational-lung-disease review describes flock workers' lung as an interstitial lung disease in workers exposed to synthetic flock fibers and reports cases or subclinical morbidity associated with nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, and rayon flock; it identifies synthetic-fiber dust as a respiratory hazard requiring prevention.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 1 · Occupational lung disease: from case reports to prevention · 1
It is an unusual interstitial lung disease characterized by lymphocytic bronchiolitis and peribronchiolitis in workers exposed to flock fibers ... additional cases or subclinical morbidity have been found in relation to nylon flock ... polyethylene flock ... polypropylene flock ... and rayon flock.

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