Dustiness may be defined as the propensity of a finely divided solid to form an airborne dust (aerosol) from a mechanical or aerodynamic stimulus.
[2] Dusty materials tend to generate aerosols with high particle concentrations measured in number or in mass.
[3] The dusty level of powders directly affects worker exposure scenarios and associated health risks in occupational settings.
Powder-based aerosol particles can pose adverse effects when deposited in human respiratory systems via inhalation.
While the drum approach has been successfully scaled down by some researchers, published standards call for tens or hundreds of grams of material, a stipulation that can prove problematic for nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and other expensive powders.