Wood
Dust – Carcinogen or Nuisance?
There is an increasing controversy over the hazards of
wood dust - originally it was considered more of a nuisance
than a hazard. This is changing, for a number of reasons.
We are learning more about the allergic reactions of individuals
to certain varieties of woods. Also, many uses of woods
result in their treatment with a variety of chemicals,
some of which can be very toxic, as formaldehyde and arsenic.
Finally, woods can carry microorganisms such as mold to
which many people are allergic.
Currently US OSHA considers wood dust as a Particulates
Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) with a limit of 15mg/M3
total dust or 5mg/M3 respirable dust
– essentially nuisance dust.
At the same time, The American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) considers wood dust a “human
carcinogen and recommends a limit of 1mg/M3
for hardwoods and 5mg/M3 for softwoods.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) considers both hardwoods and softwoods as carcinogenic
and recommends a limit of 1mg/M3, based on
information that wood dust exposure has been associated
with nasal and sinus cavity cancer, lung cancers and Hodgkin’s
disease.
Allergic respiratory reactions have been associated with
certain hardwoods: Western Red Cedar, Cedars of Lebanon,
Redwood, Oak and Mahogany. Further, as of 2007, ACGIH
recommends a limit of 0.5mg/M3 for Western
Red Cedar because of its implications in causing asthma.
Dermatitis has been associated with working in wood processing
activities such as furniture making, boat building, flooring,
and moldings.
In manufacturing processes that use glues and surface
treatments, exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde,
isocyanates and solvents, further complicates the exposure
situation.
The issues are now considered so important that a Symposium
on Wood Dust is scheduled at the American Industrial Hygiene
Conference and Exposition (AIHCE2011) in Portland Oregon
USA on May 17th and 18th, 2011 (www.aihce2011.org)
As the controversy continues, exposures continue in lumber
operations, pulp mills, rough cut lumber, finishing mills,
cabinet makers, wood fabrication shops, manufactured home
construction, and a variety of other woodworking operations.
As Industrial Hygienists, we recommend evaluation of
workplaces where wood processing occurs not only to determine
exposure to the various types of wood dust but also as
a basis to determine if respiratory protection is necessary
and the proper type of respirators needed.
Article Written By:
Robert E. Sheriff, CIH, CSP
Atlantic Environmental, Inc.
Dover, NJ
http://www.atlenv.com/
Atlantic Environmental Inc
2 East Blackwell Street
Dover, NJ 07801
(800) 344-4414
(973) 366-4660
(973) 366-3116 Fax
info@atlenv.com
|
