Evaluation of Occupational Exposure to Respirable Dust in Combine Drivers

Background and Aims: Agricultural workers are expose to various hazardous particles. Tractor and Combine drivers’ ‎exposure to particulate matters causes vast types of diseases. This study aimed  to evaluate combine ‎driver’s exposure to respirable dust.‎ Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 44 Combine drivers in Shahindej city and its surrounding ‎agricultural fields, were included. The air sampling from breathing zone of drivers was taken ‎applying NIOSH0600 method. statistical analysis was performed using SPSS16 with t-test and ‎Partial Correlation.‎ Results: The mean concentration of personal and environmental PM4 was 22680 and 521.8 ‎‏µ‏g/m3 ‎respectively. PM4 level in non-cabin combines was 63% higher than cabined machines, which was ‎‎63.5% and 37.7% for PM2.5 and PM1 respectively. Significant relations were found between PM4, ‎PM2.5 and PM1 with each other. High correlation was exists between temperature and mentioned ‎PMs.‎ Conclusion: Drivers’ exposure to particulate matter was higher than permissible exposure limits and required ‎improvement. As a controlling method, upgrading of machine cabins and implementation of ‎ventilation system could be suggested. It’s suggested that the future researchers adjust their ‎objectives to chemical characterizing of PMs and evaluation of biomarkers of particulate matter in ‎exposed workers’ blood and urine samples.‎