PNEUMOCONIOSIS AND EXPOSURE TO WOOD

The authors report a case of an employee in the wood processing indust ry. The clinical presentation was respiratory with dyspnoea on effort. The chest x-ray showed bilateral interstitial changes. Following bron chio-alveolar lavage electron microscopic studies showed evidence of s ilica particles. Respiratory function tests showed pulmonary performan ce of 51%-64% of theoretical values depending on the test used. His wo rking position involved the up keep of the boilers and also the draina ge of the silos for wood dust. The wood used was corupixa, a brazilian wood containing crystaline silica; 0.1% in fresh wood dust. Numerous analyses have specified the percentage of silica in the ashes in magma . The diagnosis of pneumoconiosis of the silicotic type was sustained. The occupational risk linked to using this type of wood should be und erstood and the need to take protective measures for the employees con cerned.