Exposure to Wood Dust, Microbial Components, and Terpenes in the Norwegian Sawmill Industry
| Autor: | Bente Ulvestad, Helle Laier Johnsen, Dave McLean, Andrea 't Mannetje, Raymond Olsen, Berit Bakke, Hanne Line Daae, Anani K.J. Afanou, Anne Straumfors, Marine Corbin, Jeroen Douwes, Wijnand Eduard |
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| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
endotoxin
Air microbiology Air Microbiology Air Pollutants Occupational 010501 environmental sciences wood dust 01 natural sciences Toxicology Terpene 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Air pollutants sesquiterpenes Occupational Exposure fungal spores Geometric standard deviation Humans Industry fungal fragments monoterpenes 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Inhalation Exposure Chemistry Norway Terpenes Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Fungi Dust Original Articles 030210 environmental & occupational health Wood Spore Endotoxins Skin irritation Resin acid Occupational exposure resin acids |
| Zdroj: | Annals of Work Exposures and Health |
| ISSN: | 2398-7316 |
| Popis: | Sawmill workers are exposed to wood dust (a well-known carcinogen), microorganisms, endotoxins, resin acids (diterpenes), and vapours containing terpenes, which may cause skin irritation, allergy, and respiratory symptoms including asthma. The health effects of most of these exposures are poorly understood as most studies measure only wood dust. The present study assessed these exposures in the Norwegian sawmill industry, which processes predominantly spruce and pine. Personal exposures of wood dust, resin acids, endotoxin, fungal spores and fragments, mono-, and sesquiterpenes were measured in 10 departments in 11 saw and planer mills. The geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) thoracic exposures were: 0.09 mg m−3 dust (GSD 2.6), 3.0 endotoxin units (EU) m−3 (GSD 4.9), 0.4 × 105 fungal spores m−3 (GSD 4.2), 2 × 105 fungal fragments m−3 (GSD 3.2), and 1560 ng m−3 of resin acids (GSD 5.5). The GM (GSD) inhalable exposures were: 0.72 mg m−3 dust (2.6), 17 EU m−3 (4.3), 0.4 × 105 fungal spores m−3 (3.8), and 7508 ng m−3 (4.4) of resin acids. The overall correlation between the thoracic and inhalable exposure was strong for resin acid (rp = 0.84), but moderate for all other components (rp = 0.34–0.64). The GM (GSD) exposure to monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were 1105 µg m−3 (7.8) and 40 µg m−3 (3.9), respectively. Although mean exposures were relatively low, the variance was large, with exposures regularly exceeding the recommended occupational exposure limits. The exposures to spores and endotoxins were relatively high in the dry timber departments, but exposures to microbial components and mono-and sesquiterpenes were generally highest in areas where green (undried) timber was handled. Dust and resin acid exposure were highest in the dry areas of the sawmills. Low to moderate correlation between components (rp ranging from 0.02 to 0.65) suggests that investigations of exposure–response associations for these components (both individually and combined) are feasible in future epidemiological studies. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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