title: Exposure to flour dust in the occupational environment.
abstract: Exposure to flour dust can be found in the food industry and animal feed production. It may result in various adverse health outcomes from conjunctivitis to baker's asthma. In this paper, flour dust exposure in the above-mentioned occupational environments is characterized and its health effects are discussed. A peer-reviewed literature search was carried out and all available published materials were included if they provided information on the above-mentioned elements. The hitherto conducted studies show that different components of flour dust like enzymes, proteins and baker's additives can cause both non-allergic and allergic reactions among exposed workers. Moreover, the problem of exposure to cereal allergens present in flour dust can also be a concern for bakers' family members. Appreciating the importance of all these issues, the exposure assessment methods, hygienic standards and preventive measures are also addressed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: a Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB) , Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stobnicka
authors.affiliation: a Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB) , Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Górny
mesh_terms: D004391:Dust; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: baker's asthma; exposure assessment; flour allergens; flour dust; wheat proteins