Particulate matter exposure of combine harvester operator during wheat harvesting in northern India

A study was carried out to assess the quantum of particulate matter in the breathing zone and workspace of combine harvester operator during 2018-19 in wheat fields of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Mass concentration and particle size distribution of dust were assessed in the breathing zone for different size fractions related to health during wheat harvesting using a personal dust monitor. Sticky papers were used to determine the characteristics of particulate matter and wheat straw (>100 mu m) in the workspace of the combine harvester. The average mass concentration of inhalable, thoracic and respirable particles were 9500, 4150 and 940 mu g/m(3) and PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particles were 3722, 453 and 120 mu g/m(3) in the breathing zone. Particulate matter concentrations were 37 and 8 times (daily basis) and 62 and 11 times (annual basis) higher than the permissible value of PM10 and PM2.5. The equivalent diameter of wheat straw ranged up to 1400 mu m with a density of 9-12 particles per mm(2) surface area. It amounts to 1.2 million particles in the workspace with the potential of sticking on exposed body of the operator considering a 10% body surface area.