Journal article
Diesel Exhaust Exposure during Farming Activities: Statistical Modeling of Continuous Black Carbon Concentrations
Annals of work exposures and health, Vol.64(5), pp.503-513
06/24/2020
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa032
PMID: 32219300
Abstract
Abstract Objectives Daily driving of diesel-powered tractors has been linked to increased lung cancer risk in farmers, yet few studies have quantified exposure levels to diesel exhaust during tractor driving or during other farm activities. We expanded an earlier task-based descriptive investigation of factors associated with real-time exposure levels to black carbon (BC, a surrogate of diesel exhaust) in Iowa farmers by increasing the sample size, collecting repeated measurements, and applying statistical models adapted to continuous measurements. Methods The expanded study added 43 days of sampling, for a total of 63 sample days conducted in 2015 and 2016 on 31 Iowa farmers. Real-time, continuous monitoring (30-s intervals) of personal BC concentrations was performed using a MicroAeth AE51 microaethelometer affixed with a micro-cyclone. A field researcher recorded information on tasks, fuel type, farmer location, and proximity to burning biomass. We evaluated the influence of these variables on log-transformed BC concentrations using a linear mixed-effect model with random effects for farmer and day and a first-order autoregressive structure for within-day correlation. Results Proximity to diesel-powered equipment was observed for 42.5% of the overall sampling time and on 61 of the 63 sample days. Predicted geometric mean BC concentrations were highest during grain bin work, loading, and harvesting, and lower for soil preparation and planting. A 68% increase in BC concentrations was predicted for close proximity to a diesel-powered vehicle, relative to far proximity, while BC concentrations were 44% higher in diesel vehicles with open cabins compared with closed cabins. Task, farmer location, fuel type, and proximity to burning biomass explained 8% of within-day variance in BC concentrations, 2% of between-day variance, and no between-farmer variance. Conclusion Our findings showed that farmers worked frequently near diesel equipment and that BC concentrations varied between tasks and by fuel type, farmer location, and proximity to burning biomass. These results could support the development of exposure models applicable to investigations of health effects in farmers associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Diesel Exhaust Exposure during Farming Activities: Statistical Modeling of Continuous Black Carbon Concentrations
- Creators
- Jean-François Sauvé - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAEmma M Stapleton - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAPatrick T O’Shaughnessy - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USASarah J Locke - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAPabitra R Josse - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USARalph W Altmaier - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USADebra T Silverman - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USADanping Liu - Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAPaul S Albert - Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USALaura E Beane Freeman - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAJonathan N Hofmann - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAPeter S Thorne - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USARena R Jones - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USAMelissa C Friesen - Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Annals of work exposures and health, Vol.64(5), pp.503-513
- DOI
- 10.1093/annweh/wxaa032
- PMID
- 32219300
- NLM abbreviation
- Ann Work Expo Health
- ISSN
- 2398-7308
- eISSN
- 2398-7316
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health; DOI: 10.13039/100000066, name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, award: P30 ES005605
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/24/2020
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984000928802771
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