Characterization of Naturally Occurring Alpha-Diketone Emissions and Exposures at a Coffee Roasting Facility and Associated Retail Caf é

ConclusionsResults from the exposure assessment study indicated that coffee production workers at this facility had elevated exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione compared to recommended guidelines, whereas baristas and caf é patrons received lower exposures. Area sampling showed that the areas with the highest alpha-diketone emissions were the grinder and the bagging machine, which are both areas associated with tasks involving ground roasted coffee. Future research could focus on designing and evaluating effective e ngineering controls, in the form of local exhaust ventilation, with the goal of reducing alpha diketone exposures, as well as conducting similar studies at other small-scale craft coffee roasters and cafés to better understand the variability in these emissions and exposures within these types of f acilities.
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research