Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance in woodworkers in the furniture industry

Abstract

(1974). British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 31, 10-17. Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance in woodworkers in the furniture industry. Measurements of mucociliary clearance from the anterior end of the middle turbinate were made using technetium-99m-labelled particles in nine woodworkers from the furniture industry and in 12 controls, none of whom had been occupationally exposed to wood dust. Clearance rates in the controls ranged from 1 9 to 18-5 mm min-' with a mean of 6-8. These values are in good agreement with measurements reported elsewhere for normal subjects. Only one of the woodworkers had a clearance rate which fell within the normal range and he had been occupationally exposed for the shortest period (6 years). In four woodworkers clearance was very slow (< 1 mm min-) and in three there was almost complete stasis. The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that nasal mucociliary function is significantl-y impaired in workers who have been exposed to wood dust in the furniture industry for more than 10 years.

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA #2000-0308-2981, Ikens Hardwood Floor Services, Madison, Wisconsin.

“…19,20,21 Obstructive respiratory effects, development of lung fibrosis, and impairment of the mucociliary clearance mechanism in the respiratory system have also been reported. 22,23 As a general rule, hard woods are more hazardous to human health than soft woods. One exception is western red cedar, a soft wood which has been identified as one of the most hazardous to human health.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-87-099-1938, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, Olathe, Colorado.

“…[33][34][35] Obstructive respiratory effects, development of lung fibrosis, and impairment of the mucocilliary clearance mechanism have also been reported. 34,36,37 In the majority of these studies, a particular type of wood has been identified as the causative agent of the particular health effect. Health effects unique to aspen wood dust has not been described.…”

HETA 91-0239-2509, Medite of New Mexico, Las Vegas, New Mexico.

“…15,16,17 Obstructive respiratory effects, development of lung fibrosis, and impairment of the mucociliary clearance mechanism also have been reported. 18,19 The criteria for wood dust exposure are based on sampling for total dust with 37-mm closed faced cassettes. The OSHA PEL for wood dust (as total dust) is 15 mg/m 3 as an 8-hour TWA.…”