Exposure to biohazards in wood dust: bacteria, fungi, endotoxins, and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans.
Personal exposure to fungi, bacteria, endotoxin, and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was determined at different woodworking sites--logging sites, sawmills, woodchipping sites, and joineries. Exposure levels to fungi at logging sites and sawmills were in the range of 10(3)-10(4) cfu/m3, at the woodchipping mill, 10(3)-10(5) cfu/m3, and at joineries, 10(2)-10(4) cfu/m3. Although mean endotoxin levels were lower than the suggested threshold value of 20 ng/m3, some personal exposures at sawmills and a joinery exceeded the standard. The geometric mean personal (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan exposure level at the woodchipping mill was 2.32 ng/m3, at sawmills, 1.37 ng/m3, at logging sites, 2.02 ng/m3, and at joineries, 0.43 ng/m3. Highly significant associations were found between mean personal inhalable endotoxin exposures and Gram-negative bacteria levels (p < 0.0001), and mean personal inhalable (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan exposures and fungi levels (p = 0.0003). The prevalence of cough, phlegm, chronic bronchitis, nasal symptoms, frequent headaches, and eye and throat irritations was significantly higher among woodworkers than controls. Dose-response relationships were found between personal exposures and work-related symptoms among joinery workers and sawmill and chip mill workers.
Alwis
K U
KU
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
Mandryk
J
J
Hocking
A D
AD
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005936:Glucans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014934:Wood
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; D005936:Glucans