Health Effects From Exposure to
Wood Dust
Workers can be exposed to wood dust at all stages of wood processing.
For many years, wood dust was considered to be a nuisance dust that
irritated the nose, eyes, or throat, but did not cause permanent health
problems. Numerous recent studies, however, have shown that
exposure to wood dust can cause health problems.
Wood is classified as either softwood or hardwood. Softwoods come
from coniferous trees such as spruce, pine, and fir. More than 90
percent of the woods used in Alberta’s forestry industry are
softwoods.
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees such as oak, alder, and maple.
Alberta hardwoods are mainly poplar and aspen and are used in the
pulp and paper industries and the manufacture of strandboard.
Secondary industries such as construction and furniture make use of a
wider variety of woods. Many of these woods are imported from
British Columbia and elsewhere. Of these, western red cedar is the
wood of most concern. Its exposure-related health effects are well
documented. Table 1 summarizes the types of woods used and wood
products made in Alberta.
Numerous recent
studies, however,
have shown that
exposure to wood
dust can cause health
problems
.
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Table 1 Woods used in Alberta
Product/Industry
Woods Used
Woods From
Construction, housing
Spruce
Alberta, B.C.
Lodgepole, Jack pine
Western red cedar
Balsam, Alpine fir
Laminated beams and engineered
Douglas fir
Alberta, B.C.
wood products
Spruce
Furniture, cabinetry
Red oak
USA, eastern Canada
Maple
USA,
eastern
Canada
Teak
Asia,
Africa
Walnut
USA
Birch
Alberta
White pine
B.C., eastern Canada
Hemlock
B.C.
Aspen
Alberta
Plywood Spruce
Alberta
Pine
Alberta
Poplar
Alberta
Laminated products, hybrid products
(used in furniture making)
Spruce
Pine
Alberta
Alberta
Rosewood
South America, Asia
Teak
Asia,
Africa
Walnut
USA
Oak
USA,
eastern
Canada
Birch
Alberta,
B.C.
Oriented strandboard
Aspen
Alberta
Pulp and paper, kraft mills
Spruce
Alberta
Pine
Alberta
Aspen
Alberta
Pulp and paper, mechanical mills
Spruce
Alberta
Pine
Alberta
Aspen
Alberta
Windows and doors
Oak
USA, eastern Canada
Birch
Alberta,
B.C.
Spruce
Alberta
Pine
Alberta
Toys Aspen
Alberta
Birch
Alberta
Firewood Birch
Alberta
Carvings, baskets, native crafts
Willow
Alberta
Birch
(bark)
Alberta
Variety of other softwoods
Alberta and imported
Data provided by Alberta Economic Development
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The health effects from exposure to wood dust are due to chemicals in
the wood or chemical substances in the wood created by bacteria,
fungi, or moulds. Coughing or sneezing are caused by the dust itself.
Dermatitis and asthma may be due to sensitivities to chemicals found
in the wood. Plicatic acid, for example, found naturally in western red
cedar, is responsible for asthma reactions and allergic effects
associated with the wood. Workers exposed to wood dust need to
understand the potential health effects of such exposure and take
precautions to reduce their exposure.
Toxic effects
Toxic woods contain chemicals that may be absorbed into the body
through the skin, lungs, or digestive system and cause effects in other
parts of the body. Health effects can include headaches, giddiness,
weight loss, breathlessness, cramps, and irregular heart beat. Toxic
woods are typically hardwoods such as yew, teak, oleander,
laburnum, and mansonia. None of the native woods harvested in
Alberta are known to be toxic or poisonous. Table 2 summarizes the
health effects reported for exposures to various types of wood.
Irritation of the eyes, nose and
throat
Many hardwoods and softwoods contain chemicals that can irritate
the eyes, nose and throat, causing shortness of breath, dryness and
soreness of the throat, sneezing, tearing and conjunctivitis
(inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye). Wood dust
usually collects in the nose, causing sneezing and a runny nose
(rhinitis). Other observed effects include nosebleeds, an impaired
sense of smell, and complete nasal blockage.
The health effects of
exposure to wood
dust are due to
chemicals in the wood
or chemical
substances in the
wood created by
bacteria, fungi, or
moulds.
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Dermatitis
Chemicals in many types of wood can cause dermatitis, a condition in
which the skin can become red, itchy, or dry, and blisters may develop.
Wood dust in direct contact with the skin can also cause dermatitis.
With repeated exposures, a worker can become sensitized to the dust
and develop allergic dermatitis. Once a worker becomes sensitized,
exposure to small amounts of dust can cause a reaction that becomes
more severe with repeated exposures.
Allergic dermatitis is most often caused by exposure to tropical
hardwoods such as obeche, mahogany, and rosewoods. Cases of
allergic dermatitis resulting from exposure to Douglas fir and western
red cedar have been reported. Irritant dermatitis has also been
reported with exposure to western hemlock, sitka spruce, pine, and
paper birch.
Respiratory system effects
Respiratory system effects due to wood dust exposure include
decreased lung capacity and allergic reactions in the lungs. Two types
of allergic reaction can take place in the lungs: hypersensitivity
pneumonitis (inflammation of the walls of the air sacs and small
airways) and occupational asthma.
Decreased lung capacity is caused by mechanical or chemical
irritation of lung tissue by the dust. This irritation causes the airways
to narrow, reducing the volume of air taken into the lungs and
producing breathlessness. It usually takes a long time to see a
reduction in lung capacity.
Studies showed that sawmill workers exposed to softwood dusts
arising from Douglas fir, western hemlock, spruce, balsam, and alpine
fir had reduced lung function. In a 1995 study which looked at a
group of sawmill workers in Alberta who were processing pine and
spruce for a least three years, workers who smoked and were exposed
to wood dust were more greatly affected than workers who did not
smoke. This condition can worsen during the work week and improve
during a worker’s days off. Over the long term, some workers may
develop a permanent decrease in lung function (chronic obstructive
lung disease).
Respiratory system
effects due to wood
dust exposure include
decreased lung
capacity and allergic
reactions in the lungs.
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Hypersensitivity pneumonitis appears to be triggered when small
particles penetrate deeply into the lungs where they trigger an allergic
response. Particles that are known or suspected to cause this condition
include moulds, bacteria, and the fine dust from some tropical
hardwoods. The initial effects can develop within hours or after
several days following exposure and are often confused with flu or
cold symptoms (headache, chills, sweating, nausea, breathlessness, and
other fever symptoms). Tightness of the chest and breathlessness
often occur and can be severe. With exposure over a long period of
time, this condition can worsen, causing permanent damage to the
lungs. The walls of the air sacs thicken and stiffen, making breathing
difficult.
Some diseases that have been classified as hypersensitivity
pneumonitis include maple bark strippers’ disease, sequoiosis (from
breathing redwood dust containing mould particles), wood trimmers’
disease, and wood-pulp workers’ disease. These diseases are caused
by moulds growing on the wood rather than the wood dust itself. The
mould spores become airborne when wood chips are moved, lumber
is trimmed, and bark is stripped.
Asthma involves a narrowing of the airways which results in
breathlessness. Coughing and a runny nose can also develop. One of
the most studied woods with respect to wood-dust related asthma is
western red cedar. It has been estimated that at least five percent of
forest industry workers in British Columbia exposed to cedar dust are
allergic to it. The first symptoms of asthma due to exposure to western
red cedar usually begin late at night and resemble a cold (eye and nose
irritation, stuffiness, runny nose, dry cough, and tightness in the chest).
Eye and nose irritation can slowly improve, leaving wheezing and
coughing as the only symptoms. With prolonged exposure, wheezing
and coughing happen during the day as well. In some cases, the asthma
attacks can start after only a few weeks of contact with cedar dust.
These diseases are
caused by moulds
growing on the wood
rather than the wood
dust itself.
It has been estimated
that at least five
percent of forest
industry workers in
British Columbia
exposed to cedar dust
are allergic to it.
Table 2 Health Effects Reported with Various Types of Woods
Wood Type
Found
Use
Health Effects
Alder (common, black, red)
Europe, North America (red)
Western Asia
Toys, general turnery, broom and brush
backs
Dermatitis associated with black alder, no reports with red
alder, decrease in lung function (red alder)
Aspen North
America
Furniture,
strandboard, pulp and paper
No health effects reported
Beech Europe
Furniture,
bobbins, brush backs, handles,
domestic woodware, flooring, plywood
manufacture, instruments
Dermatitis (wood cutters’ disease) due to lichens growing
on the bark of beech trees, rhinitis, asthma, nasal cancer
Birch (paper, white)
US and Canada (paper birch)
Europe (white birch)
Furniture, decorative objects, pulp and
paper
Irritant dermatitis
Cedar, Western Red
West Coast of North America
Building construction material, boats,
planking, framing
Asthma, allergic contact dermatitis, sensitizer, decrease in
lung function, eye irritation and conjunctivitis, rhinitis
Douglas Fir
West coast of North America,
Europe
Interior and exterior construction, flooring,
boats, veneer, furniture
Contact eczema, decrease in lung capacity
Fir (grand, balsam, silver,
alpine)
US and Canada
Europe (silver fir)
Interior construction, joiner, plywood
Skin irritation, dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, possible
decrease in lung function
Hemlock
North America
Furniture, cabinetry
Skin irritation, decreased lung function
Larch
Europe, North America
Construction, frame work, boats, flooring
Allergic dermatitis from European larch, no reports with
western larch
Mahogany Africa
Furniture,
cabinetry, boats, mouldings, etc.-
all purpose wood, used where good quality
wood is required
Dermatitis, sensitizer
Maple
Europe, North America
Furniture, interior construction, cabinets
Rhinitis, asthma, Maple Bark Strippers’ Disease (mould
spores in bark)
Oak
Europe, North America
Furniture, decorative veneer
Nasal cancer
Pine (white, lodgepole, jack)
Europe, North America
Interior and exterior construction, pulp and
paper
Skin irritation, contact dermatitis, Wood-Pulp Workers’
Disease (mould in bark), rhinitis, and asthma
Poplar
Europe, North America
Plywood, matches, toys, pulp and paper
Contact dermatitis (with sawdust contact), rhinitis
Rosewood
South America, Asia
Decorative veneer, furniture, cabinets
instruments
Eczema, allergic contact dermatitis
Spruce
Europe, North America
Interior and exterior construction, furniture,
pulp and paper
Skin irritation, Wood-Pulp Workers’ Disease (mould
spores in bark), decrease in lung function
Teak
Asia, Africa, West Indies
Ship building, interior fittings and mouldings,
furniture, flooring
Toxic, dermatitis, sensitizer
Walnut (black)
Europe, US
Veneer, cabinet making, furniture,
decorative paneling, gun stocks
Skin irritation, rhinitis, possible asthma
Irritation of skin, dermatitis, toxic
Yew
Europe, Asia, North Africa
Carving, veneer, cabinet making
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Most workers who develop cedar asthma do not have a history of
allergies. Workers who develop cedar asthma may not recover
completely when they are no longer exposed to cedar dust. In fact,
asthma attacks can be triggered by other substances. Ash, oak,
mahogany, and European species of spruce and pine have also been
reported to cause asthma in some workers.
Workers who are allergic to aspirin should be aware that willow and
birch contain large concentrations of salicylic acid, the predecessor of
aspirin. Sensitive individuals may react with only casual exposure to
the woods.
Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has
classified wood dusts as carcinogenic to humans. A study completed in
1965 observed that a large number of furniture workers and other
workers exposed to wood dust in England developed a rare form of
nasal cancer (adenocarcinoma). Since that time, many additional
studies have shown that workers employed in logging, sawmills,
furniture and cabinet making, and carpentry are at an increased risk of
developing nasal cancer.
The highest risks appear to be to those workers exposed to hardwood
dusts, most commonly beech and oak. Many of the studies looked at
workers exposed in the 1940s and 1950s (the cancer can take more
than 20 years to develop), and most of the exposure levels were much
higher than those seen in today’s industry. Most of the studies looked
at workers who were exposed to unspecified types or mixtures of
wood dust.
Controlling exposure
The most important factor affecting exposure to wood dust is the type
of work being performed. Finer dusts produced by processes such as
shaping, sanding, and routing are associated with higher exposure
levels. The type and quantity of wood dust generated is also related to
the density of the wood. Hardwoods are generally more dense than
softwoods, and under similar conditions will usually produce more
IARC has classified
wood dusts as
carcinogenic to
humans.
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dust. The freshness of the wood can also influence the amount of dust
produced during processing, with dryer woods tending to produce
more dust. Workers in logging operations, pulp mills and sawmills
tend to use fresher woods; those employed in the furniture, cabinet,
pattern, and model making industries tend to use drier woods.
Exposure to wood dust can be controlled through the use of
appropriately designed ventilation systems or respiratory protection.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in
the U.S. has developed guidelines for local ventilation systems for
several types of wood working equipment (horizontal belt sanders,
shapers, automated routers, large diameter disc sanders, orbital hand
sanders, and table saws). This information is available from the
NIOSH Web site at:
www.cdc.gov/niosh
The NIOSH guidelines use local ventilation hoods to capture wood
dust which is then collected in a filtration system. Good general
ventilation can also reduce exposure to wood dust. Wood dust
collecting within the building, on the floor, or on equipment, means
that the ventilation system is inadequate or is not working properly.
Local ventilation may not be practical for some operations and in some
cases the concentration of wood dust in the air cannot be adequately
controlled by ventilation alone. In such cases respiratory protection
may be needed if the Occupational Exposure Limit for wood dust is or
may be exceeded.
For more information:
http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_ppe001.pdf
Respiratory Protective Equipment – Employers Guide
http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_ppe004.pdf
Guidelines for the Development of a Code of Practice for
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Exposure to wood
dust can be controlled
through the use of
appropriately
designed ventilation
systems or respiratory
protection.
Contact us:
Province-Wide Contact Centre
Edmonton & surrounding
area:
780-415-8690
Throughout Alberta:
1-866-415-8690
Deaf or hearing impaired
In Edmonton: 780-427-9999
or
1-800-232-7215
throughout Alberta
Web Site
www.worksafely.org
Getting copies of OHS Act, Regulation & Code:
Queen’s Printer
www.qp.gov.ab.ca
Edmonton 780-427-4952
Workplace Health and Safety
http://employment.alberta.ca/whs-ohs
Call any Government of Alberta office toll-free
Dial 310-0000, then the area code and telephone number you want to reach
© 2009-2010, Government of Alberta, Employment and Immigration
This material may be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for non-commercial purposes. The source of this material must be
acknowledged when publishing or issuing it to others. This material is not to be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for
commercial purposes without written permission from the Government of Alberta, Employment and Immigration. This material is to
be used for information purposes only no warranty express or implied is given as to the accuracy or the timeliness of the material
presented. In case of any inconsistency between this document and the Occupational Health and Safety Legislation, the legislation will
always prevail.
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Document Outline - Health Effects From Exposure to Wood Dust
- Table 1 Woods used in Alberta
- Toxic effects
- Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
- Dermatitis
- Respiratory system effects
- Cancer
- Controlling exposure
- Guidelines for the Development of a Code of Practice for Respiratory Protective Equipment
- Province-Wide Contact Centre
- Web Site
- Queen’s Printer
- Workplace Health and Safety
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