Trends in Wood Dust Inhalation Exposure in the UK, 1985–2005

Abstract

Objectives: Wood dust data held in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) National Exposure DataBase (NEDB) were reviewed to investigate the long-term changes in inhalation exposure from 1985 to 2005. In addition, follow-up sampling measurements were obtained from selected companies where exposure measurements had been collected prior to 1994, thereby providing a follow-up period of at least 10 years, to determine whether changes in exposure levels had occurred, with key staff being interviewed to identify factors that might be responsible for any changes observed.Methods: Analysis of the temporal trend in exposure concentrations was performed using Linear Mixed Effect Models on the log-transformed NEDB data set and expressed as the relative annual change in concentration.Results: For the NEDB wood dust data, an annual decline of geometric mean (GM) exposure of 8.1% per year was found based on 1459 exposure measurements collected between 1985 and 2003. This trend was predominantly observed in data from inspection visits (measurements collected on a mandatory basis by a Specialist HSE Inspector) (n 5 1009), while data from representative surveys (measurements collected on a voluntary basis to provide information on current practices and exposures) remained relatively stable. Ten follow-up surveys in individual workplaces in 2004-2005 resulted in 70 new measurements and for each of the companies resurveyed, the GM of the wood dust exposure decreased between sampling surveys.Conclusion: Analysis of the temporal trend in UK wood dust exposure concentrations revealed declines of 8% per annum. Interviews with key long-serving employees and management suggest that factors such as technological changes in production processes, response to new legislation, and enforcement agency inspections, together with global economic trends, could be linked to the downward trends observed.

Wood Dust Sampling: Field Evaluation of Personal Samplers When Large Particles Are Present

“…The average wood dust exposure levels in the present study were consistent with the previously reported studies, despite the fact that the sampling methods and sites were different in each study and the wood dust concentrations were not always TWA measurements (Moore et al , 1990; Hamill et al , 1991; Pisaniello et al , 1991; Scheeper et al , 1995; Martin and Zalk, 1998; Teschke et al , 1999; Schlünssen et al , 2001; Rando et al , 2005; Scarselli et al , 2007; Kalliny et al , 2008; Galea et al , 2009; Saejiw et al , 2009; Yamanaka et al , 2009; Kauffer et al , 2010). Wood dust exposure levels may have decreased over recent decades possibly due to the changes in equipment, production methods, and upgrading engineering ventilation system for dust control (Teschke et al , 1999; Galea et al , 2009).…”

“…Wood dust exposure levels may have decreased over recent decades possibly due to the changes in equipment, production methods, and upgrading engineering ventilation system for dust control (Teschke et al , 1999; Galea et al , 2009). …”

Generation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during woodworking operations

“…This estimate is close to the mean wood dust concentrations (GM 2.8 mg m −3 , GSD 2.5) observed in our study, thus exposures have not declined significantly the last decade, and we can therefore not expect the SNC rates to decline. Other authors (Lee et al, 2011) suggest that wood dust exposure levels may have decreased over recent decades possibly due to the changes in equipment, production methods, and upgrading engineering ventilation systems for dust control (Teschke et al, 1999; Galea et al, 2009). Albeit the overall wood dust concentrations were similar to older studies, we do find some support for decreased wood dust concentrations in modern factories with improved occupational hygiene.…”

Occupational Health and Safety Issues in Ontario Sawmills and Veneer/Plywood Plants: A Pilot Study

“…Although there is significant information available regarding occupational exposure to wood dust and noise in peer-reviewed published literature from other parts of Canada [2–7] and internationally [8–12], there is almost no peer-reviewed published exposure data available which is from sawmills and veneer/plywood plants of Ontario.…”