dusts.org
← All dusts

Dust entry

Rayon flock dust

Respirable flock-associated dust generated during processing of flock-coated materials and compressed-air cleaning.

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

nasal irritationchronic coughrestrictive lung function patterninterstitial lung disease concernflock workers' lung

Evidence

A NIOSH evaluation at Claremont Flock found that particles associated with flock workers' lung were present in air samples, that sweeping, bagging, and compressed-air cleaning created airborne dust, and that blow-downs and flock bagging were associated with worker health effects.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 3 · Highlights of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation at Claremont Flock Corporation · 1
The same types of particles identified at the plant with cases of flock workers' lung (fragments of fiber and finish small enough to enter the lungs) were also present in air samples collected at Claremont Flock. Sweeping, bagging, and compressed air cleaning created airborne dust. Cleaning with compressed air hoses (blow-downs) and bagging flock were associated with health effects in workers.

In a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation, flock-associated dust exposure and compressed-air cleaning were associated with nasal symptoms and chronic cough. Male flock workers were more likely to show a restrictive lung-function pattern, and longer work in flock-processing areas was associated with reduced alveolar volume and carbon-monoxide diffusion capacity, compatible with subclinical interstitial lung disease. NIOSH determined that a health hazard existed and recommended eliminating compressed-air cleaning and using fit-tested respirators.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Abstract · 1
Working in areas where flock-coated cards are processed and cleaning equipment with compressed air were both significantly associated with the development of nasal symptoms after hire ... Cleaning with compressed air was also significantly associated with the development of chronic cough. ... findings ... can indicate scarring and stiffness of the lung tissue which is found in interstitial lung disease (ILD), including flock workers' lung.

Controls