støvdannende

Støvdannende is an adjective used in Norwegian to describe materials, processes or activities that produce airborne dust. A støvdannende stoff or prosess releases solid particles into the air, which can be inhaled or settle on surfaces. The term is often used in occupational hygiene, environmental protection and industrial safety to differentiate from non-dust-forming or low-dust activities.

Common støvdannende scenarios include cutting wood, grinding, sanding, drilling, crushing, mining, cement production, and handling powders. Particle size matters: coarse dust settles quickly while fine dust can remain suspended longer and penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract. Some dusts are mineral (like silica), metal or organic, and carry different health risks.

Etymology: the word combines støv (dust) with dannende (forming). The term is widely used in Norwegian language and occupational safety literature; English equivalents include “dust-forming” or “dust-producing.”

Management and safety: assessment of dustiness is part of workplace hygiene efforts. Control measures include local exhaust ventilation, enclosing processes, water suppression to reduce airborne dust, regular housekeeping, and use of personal protective equipment such as respirators. Regulations may set exposure limits for specific substances (for example silica dust). Monitoring often involves air sampling to measure dust concentrations in mg/m3, with limits varying by substance. Effective risk communication and worker training are essential components of handling støvdannende operations.