Grain Dust Hazards

Grain is usually stored in a silo, a tall tower or a pit, often located on a farm or a grain storage facility. Chronic inhaling of grain dust can result in a number of lung problems; in addition, grain dust is highly combustible and can ignite, causing serious burns. According to the United States Department of Labor, more than 600 explosions occurred in U.S. grain handling facilities during the past 40 years, killing over 250 people and injured more than 1,000.

Bronchitis

• Breathing in grain dust can result in lung problems, including bronchitis.

  One of the most common responses to breathing grain dust is long-term or chronic bronchitis, which causes inflammation of the airways. The symptoms of bronchitis include coughing that produces mucus, phlegm, sputum (a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract) and sneezing. If the bronchitis is chronic, it may induce or worsen asthmatic conditions.

Other Lung Conditions Caused By Grain Dust

• The hazards of repeated exposure to grain dust include farmer's lung, also known as green lung, and organic toxicity syndrome, called grain fever. Farmer's lung is characterized by long-term, permanent lung damage induced by grain dust, hay dust and molds that proliferate in grains. Particularly if grain spoilage has occurred, grain dust can contain mold spores that, if breathed in, may cause health issues ranging from lung disease to skin rashes.

  Grain fever, caused by prolonged exposure to organic dusts, can result in reduced lung capacity. Grain fever has flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, coughing and body aches.

Ariborne Toxicants

• Fumigants are used for insect control on stored grain.

  Grain storage facilities can develop hazardous atmospheres caused by spoiling grain or fumigation. Breathing in grain dust can expose workers to airborne contaminants, including gases associated with fermenting and decaying silage, and chemical fumigants. Exposure to fumigants, used to control insects in stored grain, can cause a wide range of physical ailments and health concerns, including heart and vascular disease, permanent damage to the central nervous system, cancer and lung edema.

Grain Dust Explosions

• Grain dust contained in storage units, such as silos, can ignite if suspended and located near an ignition source.

  Grain dust is the main contributor to explosions that occur during grain handling. Because the dust is combustible, it can burn or explode if enough of the dust becomes airborne or is suspended and comes in contact with an ignition source. Grain dust fire hazards can be minimized by prohibiting smoking inside or around a grain bin, shutting down all electrical circuits before accessing a grain bin and ensuring that any appliances or motors near the bin are sparkproof. Because grain dust must be in suspension for an explosion to take place, dust that has simply accumulated in an areas, such as the ground, is not usually in danger of exploding.