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Dust entry

Powder dye dust

Dust generated while manually weighing, transferring, and handling dry powdered dyes in textile dyeing 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

occupational asthmaeczemasevere allergic reactionspotential carcinogenicity for certain dyes

Evidence

NIOSH reports that manual transfer of dry powder dyes generates significant dust; exposure can cause occupational asthma, eczema, and severe allergic reactions, and certain dyes are recognized as potential occupational carcinogens.

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Hazardous dyes · 1
Some reactive dyes are recognised respiratory sensitisers. Breathing in respiratory sensitisers can cause occupational asthma and, once a person is sensitised, re-exposure to even very small amounts of the same dye may result in allergic symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, watery or prickly eyes, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. A small number of dyes, based on the chemical benzidine, are thought to cause cancer.

HSE states that inhalation is the major route of personal exposure to dye dust, that some reactive dyes are respiratory sensitisers capable of causing occupational asthma, and that a small number of benzidine-based dyes are thought to cause cancer.

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Hazardous dyes; Identifying sources of exposure · 1–2
Some reactive dyes are recognised respiratory sensitisers ... can cause occupational asthma ... A small number of dyes, based on the chemical benzidine, are thought to cause cancer. The major route of personal exposure is inhalation of dye dust.

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