Organic Dusts

A wide range of chemical organic dusts encountered at work and in the pharmaceutical industry can cause allergic respiratory disease. There is at present no discernible well-connected chemical similarity between these and they will therefore be discussed separately. 

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Particulate Matter Other Phan Systemic Poisons. SUica and asbestos dust produce fibrosis. SUicon carbide, carbon (other than exhaust emissions), and emery are iuert dusts. Many organic dusts, eg, poUen, wood, and resius, cause aUergic reactions. Acids, alkaUes, fluorides, and chromates are irritants. 

Fox, A. Wright, L. Fox, K. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for trace detection of muramic acid, a peptidoglycan marker in organic dust. I. Microbiol. Meth. 1995, 22,11-26. 

The dry material is readily ignited, bums very rapidly and is moderately sensitive to heat, shock, friction or contact with combustible materials. When heated above its m.p. (103-105°C), instantaneous and explosive decomposition occurs without flame, but the decomposition products are flammable. If under confinement (or in large bulk), decomposition may be violently explosive [1], An explosion which occurred when a screw-capped bottle of the peroxide was opened was attributed to friction initiating a mixture of peroxide and organic dust in the cap threads [2], Waxed paper tubs are recommended to store this and other sensitive solids [3], Crystallisation of the peroxide from hot chloroform solution involves a high risk of explosion. Precipitation from cold chloroform solution by methanol is safer [4], Water- or plasticiser-containing pastes of dibenzoyl peroxide are much safer for industrial use. 

Lower limits of explosibility of several organic dusts were determined and found to be in general agreement with estimated values [24], Probabalistic aspects of occurrence of dust explosions were studied experimentally with lycopodium powder in relation to dust and hot surface (or dust) temperature. The probability of explosion increases with dust concentration, then falls off, due to the ballast effect of unbumt dust. Probability also increases continuously with the temperature of the hot surface and/or dust particles. Application of the results to practical plant... 

MARTIN, H. and R. A.WILLOUGHBY (1972). Organic dust, sulfur dioxide, and the respiratory tract of swine. Arch. Environ Health 25. 158-165. 

Palma-Carlos AG. 1975. [Diseases caused by inhalation of organic dusts.] Allergol Immunopathol 3(5) 339-356. (Spanish)... 

Theoretical investigations of the problem were carried out on the base of the mathematical model, combining both deterministic and stochastic approaches to turbulent combustion of organic dust-air mixtures modeling. To simulate the gas-phase flow, the k-e model is used with account of mass, momentum, and energy fluxes from the particles phase. The equations of motion for particles take into account random turbulent pulsations in the gas flow. The mean characteristics of those pulsations and the probability distribution functions are determined with the help of solutions obtained within the frame of the k-e model. 

CA013 Zuskin, E., ]. Mustajbegovic, E. N. Schachter, ]. Kern, D. Ivankovic, and S. Heimer. Respiratory function in female workers occupationally exposed to organic dusts in food processing industries. Acta Med Croat 2000 54(4-5) 183-191. 

CA 17, 1144(1923) (Conceptions regarding the expln of various organic dusts) 6) D.J. Price, ChemMetEngrg 28, 902-03(1923) CA 17, 2362(1923) (Preventing dust fires and explns) 7) D.J. Price R.W. Baker, Ibid 29, 878-82 (1923) (Aluminum-bronze dust expln in Richmond, Va) 8) W.E. Gibbs, ChemAge(London) 8,... 

Saraf A., and Larsson, L. (1996), Use of gas chromatography ion trap tandem mass spectrometer for the determination of microorganisms in organic dust, / Mass Spectrom., 31, 389-396. 

Mielniczuk, Z., Mielniczuk, E., and Larsson, L. (1995), Determination of muramic acid in organic dust by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, J. Chromatogr. B, 670, 167-172. 

CFR211.46 states that a) Adequate ventilation shall be provided, b) Equipment for adequate control over air pressure, micro-organisms, dust, humidity, and temperature shall be provided when appropriate for the manufacture, processing, packaging, or holding of a drug product, c) Air filtration system, including prefilters and particulate matter air filters, shall be used when appropriate on air suppliers to production areas. ... 

Explosions involving organic dusts can usually be contained in equipment that can withstand about 7-10 times the initial pressure (Lees, 1980). Thus, if the system is originally at atmospheric pressure, the maximum pressure to be expected is about 100-150 psig. Data on explosion characteristics of the actual material to be processed are usually necessary to confirm the required design pressure. 

Inerting (most organic dusts are nonflammable in atmospheres containing less than about 10% oxygen)... 

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