Purpose of the review Review recent developments on asthma associated with wood dust, given the increasing scale of wood handling and processing activities globally. Recent findingsWork in wood industries is associated with a significantly increased risk of respiratory symptoms, rhinitis and asthma. This can be attributed to traditional processing techniques and newer technologies producing complex bioaerosol exposures, which may include chemicals. Meta-analysis studies indicate strong evidence for wood dusts as occupational sensitizers for asthma, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The global prevalence of asthma in wood workers ranges between 6--18% and for rhinitis 16--33%. Exposure estimates show wide variation. Risk factors include atopy and exposure to certain wood species, elevated current and cumulative particulate exposures. SummaryFuture studies should focus on better characterization of wood dust allergens and other bioaerosol components, specific immunoglobulin E responses to different wood species, pathophysiological mechanisms underlying asthma, and modelling dose--response relationships using refined exposure metrics for dust particulate and other bioaerosol components. There is a need for improved health-based international exposure standards and effective workplace control measures to reduce exposures to wood dust particulate (hard and soft woods), endotoxin and b-glucan, to reduce the risks of asthma in wood workers.Keywords allergy, exposure, occupational asthma, wood dust, work-related asthma METHODSA detailed literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase databases. Keywords for the search included ''wood dust, woodworkers, wood processing industry, endotoxins, b-glucans, allergens, terpenes, asthma, occupational asthma, work-related asthma, fractional

Objectives Dust generated from wood processing comprises a heterogeneous mixture of inorganic and organic particles, including wood fragments, microorganisms, endotoxins, (1–3)-β-d-glucans, and allergens. This study characterized exposure to wood dust and its determinants in the Mozambiquan wood processing industry. Methods A total of 124 personal inhalable samples, collected from a stratified random sample of 30 workers, were analysed for dust particulate, endotoxins, and (1–3)-β-d-glucans. Mixed-effects models were developed to investigate significant exposure determinants. Results The geometric mean (GM) inhalable dust particulate concentrations were 3.29 mg m−3, 98 endotoxin units (EU) m−3, and 123 ng m−3 for (1–3)-β-d-glucans. Significant predictors for higher particulate levels included machinery (GMR = 1.93), sawing (GMR = 2.80), carpentry (GMR = 2.77), or painting (GMR = 3.03) tasks. Lebombo-ironwood species was associated with higher dust particulate levels (GMR = 1.97). Determinants of endotoxin concentrations included working with dry wood and damp cleaning methods, which were associated with lower levels. Working in closed buildings (GMR = 3.10) and dry sweeping methods were associated with higher (1–3)-β-d-glucan concentrations (GMR = 1.99). Conclusions Work tasks in certain exposure groups (machinery, sawing, carpentry, painting), processing certain wood species (Lebombo-ironwood) and working in closed buildings were associated with higher exposures, whilst using dry wood and damp cleaning practices reduced exposure levels.

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