Respiratory health impact of working in sawmills in eastern Canada

Air contamination in sawmills can cause respiratory health problems. The au thors measured respirable dust, bacteria, endotoxins, and molds collected f rom 17 sawmills in eastern Canada. A total of 1,205 sawmill workers answere d a respiratory-health questionnaire, and they all participated in lung-fun ction measurements, skin-prick tests, and venous blood sampling for specifi c immunoglobulins against molds found in the sawmills. Workers had normal l ung functions, and most respiratory symptoms could be explained by smoking histories. Workers in pine sawmills had a greater prevalence of positive sk in-prick test to pine than did workers in sawmills where other woods were u sed. High levels of specific antibodies were seen in some workers. The pres ence of a positive skin-prick test and/or specific antibodies had no impact on lung function(s). These Quebec sawmill workers did not experience signi ficant respiratory illnesses; however, some of these workers may be at a hi gher risk of developing asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis than nonwor kers.