Terpene exposure and respiratory effects among workers in Swedish joinery shops.
OBJECTIVE
Exposure to monoterpenes (alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and delta 3-carene) in joinery shops was studied in Sweden during the processing of Scot's pine, and the acute respiratory effects among the employees were evaluated.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 38 workers was carried out in 4 joinery shops. The investigation included personal air sampling of monoterpenes, biological monitoring of metabolites of alpha-pinene in the workers' urine, interviews following a standardized questionnaire, and dynamic spirometry.


RESULTS
The personal exposure to monoterpenes in the joinery shops was 10-214 mg/m3. The correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.69) between exposure to alpha-pinene and verbenols (metabolites from alpha-pinene) in urine was relatively good. No acute effects on forced vital capacity or forced expiratory volume during 1 s were detected. The workers had significantly reduced preshift lung function values when compared with the values of a local reference group, even when smokers and ex-smokers were excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
Personal exposure to the monoterpenes alpha-pinene, and delta 3-carene in joinery shops may exceed the present Swedish occupational exposure limit of 150 mg/m3 during the winter season when workroom air is commonly recirculated. The determination of metabolites of alpha-pinene (verbenols) in urine can be used as an index of exposure to fumes released during wood-treating processes. The results from the lung function tests indicate chronic rather than acute reactions in the airways. The fact that there were no major changes in lung function over a workshift indicates chronic reaction in the airways.
Eriksson
K A
KA
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden.
Levin
J O
JO
Sandström
T
T
Lindström-Espeling
K
K
Lindén
G
G
Stjernberg
N L
NL
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D014934:Wood
D004391:Dust; D013729:Terpenes