Grain dust is the dust produced from the harvesting, drying, handling, storage or processing of cereal crops such as barley, wheat, oats, maize or rye. Contaminants or additives within the dust can include bacteria, endotoxins, fungal spores, insects, and animal hair.
Grain dusts can cause a variety of health conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Industries affected by exposure to grain dust include agriculture, transport, storage and the food and drink sector.
