You already know how the dust and chemical air pollution associated with grain mills and elevators can damage our respiratory health in the long term if you’ve read the previous post. For today, we will discuss one of the most severe consequences of air pollution within grain processing plants – grain dust explosions.
According to World Grain (2018), a grain dust explosion occurs when the following components are in place:
- grain dust (or other fine particles)
- a source of ignition (i.e. heat)
- confined space
- oxygen
- dispersion of grain dust
Unfortunately, the working conditions in grain elevators and mills often meet most, if not all of the above conditions. The handling and processing of grains in these environments generate a substantial amount of grain dust and other fine particles. These act as a source of fuel for the subsequent combustion and explosion which inflict deadly damages on facility workers, infrastructures, as well as the surrounding environment. The most alarming part, however, lies in the fact that only a comparatively minor amount of dust is required to trigger such explosions, as per what Keefe and Cloney (2020) observe.
The dangers of grain dust pollution, as well as grain dust explosions, remind us of the importance of frequent and rigorous housekeeping in grain processing facilities. Both Mclouth and Paulus (1961, p. 316) and Keefe and Cloney (2020) discuss the benefits of dust control in grain processing facilities, citing health and safety benefits for workers and others living in the vicinity of these facilities.
Mclouth and Paulus (1961, p. 316) observe the advantages of using dust collecting devices such as cyclone dust separators with cloth filters to minimise the amount of fine dust particles present in grain elevators and mills, but also acknowledge certain limitations such as potential grain dust accumulation in small openings of these devices. Although high-tech equipment may be more effective in controlling the amount of dust in the atmosphere, these are often too costly to operate on a regular basis.
Hence, it would be wise for grain processing facilities to enforce strict preventive measures and housekeeping regimes while educating their workers on the need to keep their working environments well-maintained. This can be enforced with state, national or regional legislation, as well as safety spot checks by health and safety officials.
It would be a great mistake to assume that the air pollution which prevails in multiple stages of our food system is only capable of inflicting long-term invisible damage to humans and other life forms on our planet. Grain dust explosions are a fine example of the complete opposite – instantaneous, life-threatening consequences of air pollution which are of tremendous concern to a large number of stakeholders.
I hope this post has allowed you to consider air pollution from a different perspective.
See you next week,
Jialing
Reference List
Keefe, R. and Cloney, C. (2020) Combustible dust explosions in grain processing and handling facilities. Available at: https://millingandgrain.com/combustible-dust-explosions-in-grain-processing-and-handling-facilities–21766 (Accessed: 17 October 2020).
Mclouth, M.E. and Paulus, H.J. (1961) ‘Air Pollution from the Grain Industry’, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, 11(7), pp. 313-317. doi: 10.1080/00022470.1961.10468004.
World Grain (2018) Grain Operations: Preventing grain dust explosions. Available at: https://www.world-grain.com/articles/10859-grain-operations-preventing-grain-dust-explosions (Accessed: 17 October 2020).