Iowa
State University Extension
Iowa
State University Extension Farm operators know the importance
of wearing protective equipment when working around pesticides
or other toxic products. But what about other jobs?
Air-purifying
respirators are recommended for activities where grain dust,
molds, pollen, animal dander, dirt, welding fumes and diesel
exhaust may be a problem. They're also recommended if you
are bothered by dust, have congestion or respiratory problems,
or it is recommended by your doctor.
Even
where the concentration of dust is small, continual exposure
to dusty conditions can lead to serious health problems including
"farmer's lung." Dust particles accumulate in your lungs and
can cause you to be easily tired or short of breath. Other
tell-tale clues of breathing problems might be wheezing, coughing
and congestion. You'll be more susceptible to colds, bronchitis,
pneumonia and allergies as well.
In most
cases, these conditions can be prevented with the use of an
air-purifying respirator. This device has a mechanical filter
or cartridge that cleans the air as the wearer breathes. Disposable
respirators are acceptable as long as they fit well and are
right for the job.
It's
difficult to track the number of farms deaths due to respiratory
diseases because they develop over time. The National Safety
Council reported in 1990 that dust caused one-third of all
farm-related respiratory illnesses among workers on large
farms.
For
more information, contact your local Extension office. A new
Safe Farm publication soon will be available on this topic.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
news release was distributed by Iowa State University Extension
as part of the Safe Farm Program. Safe Farm promotes health
and safety in agriculture. It is funded by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health, Iowa State University,
and a network of groups that serve Iowa farm workers and their
families. Distribution date: January 1993.
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