Work-related symptoms and dose-response relationships for personal exposures and pulmonary function among woodworkers

Background Four sawmills, a wood chipping mill, and five joineries in New S outh Wales, Australia, were studied for the effects of personal exposure to wood dust, endotoxins, (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucans, Gram-negative bacteria, a nd fungi on lung function among woodworkers. Methods Personal inhalable and respirable dust sampling was carried out. Th e lung function tests of workers were conducted before and after a workshif t. Results The mean percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function was marke dly high for woodworkers compared with the controls. Dose-response relation ships among personal exposures and percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function and percentage predicted lung function were more pronounced among joinery workers compared with sawmill and chip mill workers. Woodworkers ha d markedly high prevalence of regular cough, phlegm, and chronic bronchitis compared with controls. Significant associations were found between percen tage cross-shift decrease in FVC and regular phlegm and blocked nose among sawmill and chip mill workers. Both joinery workers and sawmill and chip mi ll workers showed significant relationships between percentage predicted lu ng function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%) and respiratory symptoms. Conclusions Wood dust and biohazards associated with wood dust are potentia l health hazards and should be controlled. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:481-490, 199 9. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.