IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

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November 22, 2024

Air quality and respiratory health of workers in Québec peat processing plants equipped with dust control systems

Abstract

Although peat bogs are one of Québec’s important natural resources, few scientific data exist on these workplaces, which employ approximately 700 people. These workers are exposed to high concentrations of microorganisms that could affect their respiratory health. The authors have identified the biological contaminants contained in the peat moss and their effects on health, and have evaluated the air quality in processing and packaging plants equipped with dust control systems, as well as the health status of the people working there. The results demonstrate that the levels of exposure to different contaminants most often exceed the permissible limits. For various reasons, the control systems at source do not maintain the dust emissions at acceptable levels. The report ends with a series of recommendations that could improve the working conditions of peat bog workers.

Produced Under this Project

  • Traitement de la tourbe
    Des recommandations pour protéger la santé et améliorer la qualité de l'air Volume 18, n0 1

  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in peat moss factory

    Cormier Y., Israël-Assayag E., Bédard G., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 157, no 3, 1998, p. A888

  • Microflora of air and peat in peat moss processing plants in Eastern Canada

    Pageau P., Mériaux A., Cormier Y., Goyer N., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Proceedings of the 98th Conference of the American Thoracic Society (98th : May 17-22, 2002 : Atlanta, Georgia), no 8 , 2002, p. A522

  • Rural work environment: evaluation of air harmfulness by in vitro tests on pulmonary epithelial cells

    Létourneau V., Mériaux A., Chakir J., Cormier Y., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Future of Rural People : Rural Economy, Healthy People, Environment, Rural communities : 5th International Symposium (5th : October 18-24, 2003 : Saskatoon, Alberta), 2003

  • Assessment of exposure to Mycobacterium in peat moss processing plants using real time PCR and sequence analysis

    Cayer M. P., Veillette M., Hamelin R., Bergeron M.-J., Cormier Y., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Future of Rural People : Rural Economy, Healthy People, Environment, Rural communities : 5th International Symposium (5th : October 18-24, 2003 : Saskatoon, Alberta), 2003

  • Sentitization to airborne molds and its health effects in peat moss factory workers

    Cormier Y., Pageau P., Mériaux A., Assayag E., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Skokloster Workshop (4th : April 7-10 2003 : Department of Environmental Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden), 2003

  • Microflora of air and peat in peat moss processing plants in Eastern Canada

    Pageau P., Cormier Y., Mériaux A., Goyer N., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Skokloster Workshop (4th : April 7-10, 2003 : Department of Environmental Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden), 2003

  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in peat moss processing plant workers

    Cormier Y., Israël-Assayag E., Bédard G., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 158, no 2, 1998, p. 412-417

  • Sensitization to airborne moulds in peat moss factory workers. Health Research in Rural and Remote Canada : Meeting Challenges, Creating Opportunities

    Pageau P., Cormier Y., Mériaux A., Assayag E., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Health Research in Rural and Remote Canada : 3rd National Conference (3rd : October 24-26 2002 : Halifax, Nova Scotia), 2002

  • Microflora of air and peat in peat moss processing plants in Eastern Canada. Health Research in Rural and Remote Canada : Meeting Challenges, Creating Opportunities

    Pageau P., Mériaux A., Cormier Y., Goyer N., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    in Health Research in Rural and Remote Canada : 3rd National Conference (3rd : October 24-26, 2002 : Halifax, Nova Scotia), 2002

  • Sensitization to airborne moulds in peat moss factory workers

    Pageau P., Cormier Y., Mériaux A., Assayag E., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 165, no 8, p. A461

  • Microflora of air and peat in peat moss processing plants in Eastern Canada

    Pageau P., Mériaux A., Cormier Y., Goyer N., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 165, no 8, p. A522

  • Sensibilisation aux moisissures chez les travailleurs des tourbières

    Cormier Y., Pageau P., Mériaux A., Assayag E., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    6e Congrès de pneumologie de langue française (6e : 26-29 janvier 2002 : Nice-Acropolis, France), 2002

  • Évaluation d'échantillonneurs de poussières en milieu de travail : le cas des tourbières

    Goyer N., Cloutier Y.

    Source :

    in Colloque international : Poussières, fumées et brouillards sur les lieux de travail: risques et prévention (11-13 juin 2001 : Toulouse, France), 2001

  • Bioaerosols in peat moss processing plants

    Mériaux A., Pageau P., Cormier Y., Goyer N., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 3, no 8, 2006, p. 408-417

  • Sensitization to airborne molds and its health effects in peat moss processing plant workers

    Mériaux A., Cormier Y., Pageau P., Israël-Assayag E., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 3, no 8, 2006, p. 442-447

  • Biological activities of respirable dust from Eastern Canadian peat moss factories

    Létourneau V., Mériaux A., Goyer N., Chakir J., Cormier Y., Duchaine C.

    Source :

    Toxicology in Vitro, vol. 24, no 4, 2010, p. 1273-1278

Additional Information

Type: Project
Number: 0099-0710
Status: Completed
Year of completion: 2004
Team:
  • Caroline Duchaine (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)
  • Yvon Cormier (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)
  • Anne Mériaux (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)
  • Nicole Goyer (IRSST)
  • Yves Cloutier (IRSST)
  • Louis Lazure (IRSST)
  • Gaétane Racine-Bédard (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)
  • Serge Simard (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)