TERPENE EXPOSURE AND RESPIRATORY EFFECTS AMONG SAWMILL WORKERS

Objectives This study was performed to evaluate exposure to terpenes i n sawmills and to study the acute effects on lung function and the res piratory tract of exposed laborers. Methods The relationships between personal exposure to sawing fumes, assessed by air sampling, and terpe ne metabolites in urine were studied. The association between exposure to terpenes and acute effects on lung function was studied for 48 wor kers. The reactivity to methacholine within the study population was i nvestigated. Variation in acute subjective respiratory symptoms during a workshift was evaluated by interviewing the employees before and af ter work, following a standardized questionnaire. Results Personal exp osure to terpenes in the sawmills was 11-158 mg . m(3). The correlatio n (correlation coefficient = 0.84) between exposure to alpha-pinene an d the concentration of verbenols (metabolites from alpha-pinene) in ur ine was good. No acute effects on forced vital capacity or forced expi ratory volume during 1 s were detected. A decrease in carbon monoxide lung diffusing capacity after a workshift was detected. Workers with g reater than or equal to 5 years of sawmill employment showed a higher reactivity to methacholine than those with < 5 years. Eye irritation i ncreased during a workday. Conclusions personal exposure to monoterpen es during a workshift sometimes exceeds the present Swedish limit valu e. The results show that verbenols in urine can be used as a biologica l exposure index of sawing fumes. Exposure in sawmills can cause an ac ute decrease in diffusing capacity, Workers with less than or equal to 5 years of employment showed increased bronchial reactivity.