NIOSH evaluated peanut inspectors with peanut dust and endotoxin exposure and reported skin and respiratory symptoms in this occupational setting.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: HETA 2008-0052-3115 — Skin and Respiratory Symptoms in Peanut Inspectors with Peanut Dust and Endotoxin Exposure ↗Dust entry
Peanut dust
Organic dust generated during peanut inspection and handling, which may contain endotoxins and other biological material.
Airborne form
dust
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
respiratory symptomsskin symptomsairway irritationeye irritationendotoxin exposure concernaflatoxin exposure concern
Evidence
A NIOSH-indexed study detected aflatoxin B1 in respirable peanut dust from contaminated peanut lots and found that aflatoxin content in dust tracked the contamination of the bulk peanuts; no aflatoxin was found in dust from uncontaminated peanuts.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Aflatoxin in respirable airborne peanut dust ↗Controls
- local exhaust ventilation
- dust suppression
- hygiene controls
- exposure monitoring
- appropriate respiratory protection