Workplace exposure to wood dust and the prevalence of wood-specific sensitization

Schlünssen, Vivi; Sigsgaard, Torben; Raulf‐Heimsoth, Monika; Kespohl, S.

doi:10.5414/alx01503e

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 88 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…According to some authors, wood dust is more dangerous that formaldehyde [29]. Occupational exposure to wood dust affects 3.6 million workers within the European Union (EU) [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Exposure to Dust Produced when Milling Thermally Modified Wood

Očkajová

Kučerka

Kminiak

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During production, thermally modified wood is processed using the same machining operations as unmodified wood. Machining wood is always accompanied with the creation of dust particles. The smaller they become, the more hazardous they are. Employees are exposed to a greater health hazard when machining thermally modified wood because a considerable amount of fine dust is produced under the same processing conditions than in the case of unmodified wood. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that wood dust causes cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and of the nasopharynx. Wood dust is also associated with toxic effects, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, and respiratory system effects which include decreased lung capacity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and allergic reactions. In our research, granular composition of particles resulting from the process of longitudinal milling of heat-treated oak and spruce wood under variable conditions (i.e., the temperature of modification of 160, 180, 200 and 220 °C and feed rate of 6, 10 and 15 m.min−1) are presented in the paper. Sieve analysis was used to determine the granular composition of particles. An increase in fine particle fraction when the temperature of modification rises was confirmed by the research. This can be due to the lower strength of thermally modified wood. Moreover, a different effect of the temperature modification on granularity due to the tree species was observed. In the case of oak wood, changes occurred at a temperature of 160 °C and in the case of spruce wood, changes occurred at the temperatures of 200 and 220 °C. At the temperatures of modification of 200 and 220 °C, the dust fraction (i.e., that occurred in the mesh sieves, particles with the size ≤ 0.08 mm) ranged from 2.99% (oak wood, feed rate of 10 m.min−1) to 8.07% (spruce wood, feed rate of 6 m.min−1). Such particles might have a harmful effect on employee health in wood-processing facilities.

show abstract

“…According to some authors, wood dust is more dangerous that formaldehyde [29]. Occupational exposure to wood dust affects 3.6 million workers within the European Union (EU) [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Exposure to Dust Produced when Milling Thermally Modified Wood

Očkajová

Kučerka

Kminiak

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…hypersensitivity pneumonitis and occupational asthma. Moreover, many hard and softwoods contain chemicals that can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat causing shortness of breath, dryness, and soreness of the throat, sneezing, tearing, and rhinitis (Schlünssen et al , 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Health Disorders Among Workers in Joinery Workshops

Salem

et al. 2021

Egypt. J. Occup. Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

2020, on 100 woodworkers ernorate. Similar numbers of subjects were chosen randomly from workers' relatives who were never exposed to similar hazards. All participants were interviewed using a predesigned questionnaire. Physical examination and spirometric measurements were performed for them. Environmental study of the workplace was done. Results: The mean concentration of respirable wood dust was 3.61±2.00 mg/m 3 , which is higher cantly higher prevalence of respiratory manifestations e.g. rhinitis, cough, expectoration, wheezes, shortness of breathing, chest pain and asthma (59%, 64%, 51%, 34%, 70%, 4% and 24%; respectively) as well as decreased spirometric measurements compared to the controls. The higher prevalence of respiratory manifestations as well as decreased spirometric measurements were positively correlated with time intensity factor. Conclusion and recommendations: Exposure to wood dust in a concentration more than permissible level has been adversely affecting the respiratory system and causing decrease in spirometric measurements. Regular use of good quality personal

show abstract

“…Although specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization has been reported in woodworkers, Type 1 allergy is not considered to be a major factor. It is estimated that only 20% of patients working in the wood industry referred for clinical evaluation demonstrate sensitization [4]. Kespohl et al [29] demonstrated that exposure to wood dust can also induce irritative as well as allergic respiratory disease and that the prevalence of sensitization is much higher for tropical (30%) than nontropical wood species (3%).…”

Section: Pathophysiological Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood dust and asthma

Baatjies

Chamba

Jeebhay

2023

Current Opinion in Allergy &Amp; Clinical Immunology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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

show abstract

Workplace exposure to wood dust and the prevalence of wood-specific sensitization

Cited by 13 publications

References 88 publications

Occupational Exposure to Dust Produced when Milling Thermally Modified Wood

Occupational Exposure to Dust Produced when Milling Thermally Modified Wood

Respiratory Health Disorders Among Workers in Joinery Workshops

Wood dust and asthma

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About