Distribution Characteristics of Tobacco Dust and Noise Hazards in a Cigarette Factory

Objective To analyze the distribution characteristics of tobacco dust and noise hazards in a cigarette factory, and to provide scientific evidence for tobacco production enterprises to determine the critical control points of occupational diseases.

Methods Regular monitoring data of tobacco dust and noise were collected in a cigarette factory from 2010 through 2014. Meanwhile production process and prevention measures against occupational diseases were also investigated. The variations of tobacco dust concentrations and noise intensities, as well as their unqualified rates, were analyzed by year and production process.

Results There are obvious differences in the time weighted average concentrations of tobacco dust of 2010-2014. Specifically, the average concentration and unqualified rate of tobacco dust were (1.97±2.43) mg/m³ and 23.0% in 2012, significantly higher than those in the other years (P<0.05). The average concentration of tobacco dust was (1.92±2.82) mg/m³ in tobacco primary process, and the unqualified rate was 26.3% which was higher than that of the other processes (P<0.05). The average concentration of tobacco dust was (1.33±0.81) mg/m³ in expanding process, which was not different from that in tobacco primary process but higher than those in the other processes (P<0.05). The eight-hour equivalent noise levels for the five years were in the range of 80.00-83.45 dB(A), without obvious changes. The eight-hour equivalent noise level was (87.8±2.3) dB(A) in cigarette making and packing process, the unqualified rate was 89.3%, and both were higher than those in the other processes (P<0.05).

Conclusion The cigarette factory should minimize manual tobacco stem picking to reduce workers' exposure and pay attention to tobacco dust control by improving local ventilation and personal protection during performing maintenance and cleaning. Noise control in cigarette making and packing process is the key to prevention and control of occupational hazards in cigarette production and should be a critical control point.