Table 1

Results of the assessment of exposure concentrations to inhalable dust, respirable dust, endotoxin and black carbon for each job group, and compliance with OELV

Job (k) (sampling time AM; SD (min))*Inhalable dust† (mg m−3), AM
GM (GSD) (n)
(EN 689:2018 test)		Respirable dust‡ (mg m−3)
GM (GSD) (n)
(EN 689:2018 test)		Endotoxin‡ (EU m−3)
GM (GSD) (n)
(EN 689:2018 test)		Black carbon‡ (µg m−3)
GM (GSD) (n)
All
(k=133)
(284; 65)		1.7 (2.7)
(36)		0.4 (3.2)
(98)		30 (4)
(36)		3.8 (2.3)
(98)
Burned cane cutters
(k=35)
(249; 43)		2.2 (3.2)
(13)
(A)		0.8 (3.9)
(23)
(A)		63 (2)
(12)
(A)		8.0 (2.8)
(23)
Seed cutters
(k=19)
(310; 34)		3.9 (1.8)
(5)
(A)		0.4 (2.3)
(14)
(A)		100 (2)
(5)
(A)		4.0 (1.5)
(14)
Seeders
(k=20)
(289; 56)		0.9 (1.5)
(5)
(U)		0.6 (2.6)
(15)
(A)		9 (1)
(5)
(B)		3.5 (1.9)
(15)
Reseeders
(k=18)
(426; 2)		2.6 (1.3)
(4)
(U)		0.3 (2.9)
(14)
(A)		17 (2)
(4)
(U)		3.1 (1.5)
(14)
Drip irrigation repair workers
(k=18)
(376; 8)		0.5 (2.4)
(4)
(U)		0.1 (2.3)
(14)
(B)		5 (1)
(4)
(B)		2.5 (1.4)
(14)
Weeders
(k=10)
(343; 60)		1.1 (1.4)
(5)
(U)		0.3 (1.4)
(5)
(B)		12 (2)
(5)
(U)		3.1 (1.3)
(5)
Gravity irrigators
(k=13)
(293; 58)		0.2 (2.8)
(13)
(A)		2.1 (2.4)
(13)
OELV
MAK: 4 mg m−3 BAuA: 1.25 mg m−3 DECOS: 90 EU m−3

  • According to the EN 689:2018 strategy for testing compliance with occupational exposure limit values, A is above the threshold; U is uncertain, neither exceeding nor below the threshold; and B is below the threshold.

  • *Daily worktime recorded during January and March.

  • †Sampled in March 2020.

  • ‡Sampled in January and March 2020.

  • AM, arithmetic mean; BAuA, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin; DECOS, Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Standards; GM, geometric mean; GSD, geometric standard deviation; k, number of workers; MAK, maximale Arbeitsplatz‐Konzentration (maximum workplace concentration); min, minutes; n, number of measurements.