Journal article
A task-based analysis of black carbon exposure in Iowa farmers during harvest
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.15(4), pp.293-304
04/03/2018
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1422870
PMCID: PMC6114936
PMID: 29286870
Abstract
Diesel exhaust has been associated with adverse human health effects. Farmers are often exposed to diesel exhaust; however, their diesel exposure has not been well characterized. In this descriptive study, we measured black carbon concentrations as a proxy for diesel exhaust exposure in 16 farmers over 20 sampling days during harvest in southeast Iowa. Farmers wore a personal aethalometer which measured real-time black carbon levels throughout the working day, and their activities were recorded by a field researcher. Black carbon concentrations were characterized for each farmer, and by activity, vehicle fuel type, and microenvironment. Overall, 574 discrete tasks were monitored with a median task duration of 5.5 min. Of these tasks, 39% involved the presence of a diesel vehicle. Farmers' daily black carbon geometric mean exposures ranged from 0.1-2.3 µg/m
3
, with a median daily geometric mean of 0.3 µg/m
3
. The highest black carbon concentrations were measured on farmers who used or worked near diesel vehicles (geometric mean ranged from 0.5 µg/m
3
while harvesting to 4.9 µg/m
3
during animal work). Higher geometric means were found for near vs. far proximity to diesel-fueled vehicles and equipment (2.9 vs. 0.3 µg/m
3
). Indoor, bystander proximity to diesel-operated vehicles resulted in the highest geometric mean black carbon concentrations (18 µg/m
3
). Use of vehicles with open cabs had higher mean black carbon concentrations than closed cabs (2.1-3.2 vs. 0.4-0.9 µg/m
3
). In summary, our study provided evidence that farmers were frequently exposed to black carbon associated with diesel-related activities at levels above urban ambient concentrations in their daily work during harvest.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A task-based analysis of black carbon exposure in Iowa farmers during harvest
- Creators
- Emma M Stapleton - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of IowaPatrick T O'Shaughnessy - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of IowaSarah J Locke - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer InstituteRalph W Altmaier - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of IowaJonathan N Hofmann - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer InstituteLaura E Beane Freeman - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer InstitutePeter S Thorne - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of IowaRena R Jones - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer InstituteMelissa C Friesen - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.15(4), pp.293-304
- DOI
- 10.1080/15459624.2017.1422870
- PMID
- 29286870
- PMCID
- PMC6114936
- NLM abbreviation
- J Occup Environ Hyg
- ISSN
- 1545-9624
- eISSN
- 1545-9632
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- NIH P30 ES005605 / National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/03/2018
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983997487102771
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