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Dust entry

Tea dust

Airborne dust generated during tea processing and tea-bag reclaiming 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

upper respiratory problemsrespiratory health concernfungal bioaerosol exposure concern

Evidence

In a NIOSH evaluation of tea-dust exposure, particle sizes were expected to deposit substantially in the nose and throat, which the report said might explain frequent upper-respiratory problems among workers. The report found that a specially designed ventilation hood was effective in reducing potential workplace exposures near tea-bag reclaiming.

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Abstract · 1
The particle size distribution of the dust was such that much would be deposited in the nose and throat. This might explain the frequent upper respiratory problems experienced by Tetley workers. ... Results also demonstrated the effectiveness of engineering controls ... under a specially designed ventilation hood.

HSE’s Asthmagen compendium says the evidence for asthma caused by tea dust is limited and not sufficient to conclude that tea dust meets its criteria for classification as a respiratory sensitiser; it records some evidence of bronchial responsiveness in exposed workers.

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page 173 · D14: Tea dust · 1
The body of evidence for the induction of asthma by tea dust is small in relation to the extent of occupational exposure to the material. ... There is not sufficient evidence to conclude that tea dust meets the revised EU criteria (1996) for classification as a respiratory sensitiser.

The NIOSH-indexed study reports occupational asthma in cocoa workers, significant lung-function decreases following inhalation of cocoa-dust extract, and risk of allergic sensitization and respiratory impairment.

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page 1 · Abstract · 1
Occupational asthma was diagnosed in 2 (5%) of the cocoa workers ... Bronchoprovocation testing demonstrated significant decreases in lung function following inhalation of cocoa dust extract ... These data suggest that workers employed in the processing of cocoa and flour may be at a high risk for the development of allergic sensitization and respiratory impairment.

Controls