A NIOSH-indexed study collected 122 samples during potato harvesting and detected respirable dust in 93 samples and respirable silica in 18; maximum reported respirable dust was 5.05 mg/m3 and silica was 0.105 mg/m3.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Respirable Dust and Crystalline Silica (Quartz) Exposure Resulting from Potato Harvesting Operations ↗Dust entry
Potato-harvest dust
Respirable soil and organic dust generated during potato harvesting operations.
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 irritationrespirable crystalline-silica exposureendotoxin exposure concernoccupational respiratory disease concern
Evidence
Controls
- cab filtration
- wet soil or dust suppression
- enclosed harvesting equipment
- exposure monitoring
- appropriate respiratory protection