Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 23(6) 967–979 © 2011 APJPH Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1010539510365099 http://aph.sagepub.com Concentrations and Size Distribution of Inhalable and Respirable Dust Among Sugar Industry Workers: A Pilot Study in Khon Kaen, Thailand Pornpun Sakunkoo, MSc 1 , Naesinee Chaiear, MMed, PhD 1 , Chalermchai Chaikittiporn, PhD 2 , and Steven Sadhra, PhD 3 Abstract There has been very limited information regarding bagasse exposure among workers in sugar industries as well as on health outcomes. The authors determined the occupational exposure of sugar industry workers in Khon Kaen to airborne bagasse dust. The size of the bagasse dust ranged from 0.08 to 9 μm with the highest size concentration of 2.1 to 4.7 μm.The most common size had a geometric mean diameter of 5.2 μm, with a mass concentration of 6.89 mg/m 3 /log μm. The highest mean values of inhalable and respirable dust were found to be 9.29 mg/m 3 from February to April in bagasse storage, 5.12 mg/m 3 from May to September, and 4.12 mg/m 3 from October to January. Inhalable dust concentrations were 0.33, 0.47, and 0.41 mg/m 3 , respectively. Workers are likely to be exposed to high concentrations of bagasse dust and are at risk of respiratory diseases. Preventive measures, both in the form of engineering designs and personal protective devices, should be implemented. Keywords bagasse, concentrations, size distribution, sugar industry Introduction Global sugar production was nearly 100 million tons in 2004 from sugarcane in more than 130 countries. 1 Brazil was the world’s largest sugarcane producer, followed by India, Pakistan, China, and Thailand. 2 In tropical regions of the world, sugarcane represents a major crop. Because of the increasing demand for sugar in the last century, large areas in the tropical and subtropical 1 Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Mahidol University, Thailand 3 Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham, England, UK Corresponding Author: Naesinee Chaiear, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 40002 Email:cneasi@kku.ac.th