Introduction
Pollutants produced by wood industries are one of the leading causes of premature death and morbidity in exposed persons. Wood dust is among the well-known carcinogens of modern times, and several wood operations produce it, including milling, cutting, debarking, sanding, and grinding. The different sizes of wood dust particles artisanal and wood processes emit can also contain biological agents such as endotoxins, bacteria, and fungi.
Wood dust exposure can cause respiratory disorders such as allergies, asthma, irritation of the nasal airways, and failure of lung function. In addition, the most exposed individuals are at risk of getting nasal and sinonasal cancer. This essay seeks to establish a link between the inhalation of wood dust and cancer and other ailments.
Background
Millions of woodworkers are exposed to wood dust every day. Wood dust has been identified as a carcinogen in numerous epidemiological investigations as well as a risk factor for nasal dysfunction, asthma, and lung function collapse. There are over 10,000 tree species worldwide, and more than 1000 are used commercially (Schlünssen et al., 2018). A tolerable exposure threshold of 5 mg per meter cubed has been recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (Schlünssen et al., 2018). Cancer among woodworkers has been linked to further exposure.
The studies evaluating the risk of acquiring cancer from exposure to wood dust were located using a comprehensive literature review. Studies by Kargar-Shouroki et al. (2022) have found a connection between wood dust and certain types of cancer. These studies observed that the risk of sinonasal cancer was high among woodworkers.
Schlünssen et al. (2018) identified carpenters, sawmill workers, and other individuals who manipulate wood as the most at-risk professions. According to these studies, other cancers of the throat, colon, stomach, lung, and rectum may also be linked to wood dust. However, they do not provide enough evidence to determine the association.
Other case-controlled studies have also identified the connection between tree species and cancer. Particularly, exposure to hardwood dust results in excess sinonasal adenocarcinoma (Mogal et al., 2022). Individuals exposed to softwoods reported high cases of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (Holm & Festa, 2019).
The mean exposure duration of dust from hardwood trees that causes cancer is 25 to 40 years (Wood dust, n.d.). Wood dust extracted from birch and oak trees is considered the most carcinogenic (Wood dust, n.d.). As usual, individuals who directly manipulate wood, such as sawmill workers and carpenters, are at high risk of cancer caused by these tree species.
Since the evidence presented is obtained from case-controlled and observational studies, it does not determine precisely how cancer is caused by exposure to wood dust. The evidence might also be biased by the maintenance of occupational and working history files and the value of the documents assessed (Mogal et al., 2022). Thus, the research question of this proposal is: How strong are the connections between exposure to wood dust and cancer outcomes?
Specific Aims
The research question will be addressed through case-controlled and observational studies of the woodworkers. The study will determine how wood dust exposure results in various types of cancer.
- Aim 1. To evaluate wood dust determinants and exposures in woodworkers and how they are related to cancer outcomes.
- H0. Workers who directly manipulate wood, like saw millers and carpenters, are highly exposed to inhaling wood dust that can cause cancer.
- Aim 2. To create, assess, and implement practicable, cost-effective interventions to minimize dust exposure.
- H0. Cleaning methods, like vacuum extraction of tools and using personal protective equipment, can minimize exposure to wood dust.
Results
Wood dust is a product of the tools and machines used to shape and cut wood. Carpentry, cabinet-making, and furniture-making industries are the highest producers of wood dust (Kargar-Shouroki et al., 2022). People are exposed to wood dust when operating equipment and machinery to shape and cut wood. Compressed air, sanding, and dry sweeping dust also cause high exposure to dust. The dust is deposited in the throat, nose, and other airways when inhaled.
Cancer risk is significantly increased by wood dust exposure. The most common type of cancer caused by wood dust is sinonasal carcinoma (Schlünssen et al., 2018). Wood dust causes sinonasal papillomas or malignant tumors in the sinonasal region (Wood dust, n.d.). Depending on the type of tree, different tree species can cause various types of cancer.
Among the tree species, oak and beech wood dust are known to cause severe forms of sinonasal cancer (Wood dust, n.d.). Carene and quercetin chemicals extracted from oak and beech wood are known to be mutagenic (Wood dust, n.d.). In addition, beech and oak dust are carriers of chromium compounds that are linked to the establishment of sinonasal cancers (Wood dust, n.d.). Exposure to wood dust from oak and beech trees for over 20 years can also cause severe sinonasal adenocarcinoma in the ethmoid sinus and superior nasal cavity.
Other types of cancer likely caused by wood dust include rectum, colon, larynx, lung, and nasopharynx cancer. In addition to cancer, wood dust can cause other health issues, such as multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia (Wood dust, n.d.). The dust can cause irritation or damage when it gets in the eyes. In addition, it can cause dermatitis, irritation, and skin ulceration when it comes into contact with the skin.
How to Mitigate Wood Dust Exposure
Engineering controls, such as exhaust ventilation systems, should be placed where dust is created. Short-term solutions like personal protective equipment (PPE) will also reduce exposure. Good hygiene practices like showering and changing clothes after work can also reduce wood dust exposure. When creating a safe working environment, preference should be provided for mitigation strategies that protect all staff at the same time (Holm & Festa, 2019). For instance, consider local exhaust ventilation, which protects everyone, instead of respiratory protective equipment for a single individual.
Policies Governing the Acceptable Level of Exposure
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations assess the risks caused by dust exposure. Employers should identify the hazards, evaluate the risks, determine who might be affected, and mitigate the risks to comply. COSHH determines the work exposure limits by assessing the substances in the air over a specific period (Holm & Festa, 2019).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also responsible for regulating permitted exposure levels of wood dust in the United States. OSHA sets the exposure limit for respirable dust to 5mg per cubic meter and 15 mg per cubic meter for total wood dust (Schlünssen et al., 2018). OSHA also regulates protective protocol measures for workers, warns against potential chemical hazards, and provides awareness about the risks of high dust levels.
Finally, several types of cancer are linked to wood dust exposure, according to reliable research. The standard type of cancer caused by wood dust is sinonasal cancer, while the less common types include colon, lung, nasopharynx, rectum, and larynx cancer. Nonetheless, preventive measures must be implemented for workers at risk of wood dust exposure. The preventive measures should improve the workers’ working safety, hygiene, and health. Lastly, future studies must overcome the limitations identified in this systematic review, primarily by increasing the sample size, identifying better control groups to compare with, and recognizing occupational exposure characteristics.
References
Kargar-Shouroki, F., Banadkuki, M. R. D., Jambarsang, S., & Emami, A. (2022). The association between wood dust exposure and respiratory disorders and oxidative stress among furniture workers. The Central European Journal of Medicine, 134, 529-537. Web.
Holm, S. E., & Festa, J. L. (2019). A review of wood dust longitudinal health studies: Implications for an occupational limit value. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 17(1), 1-20. Web.
Mogal, R., Islam, D., Hasan, I., Junayed, A., Sompa, S., A., Mahmod, R, & Sikder, A. (2022). The impact of wood dust on pulmonary function and blood immunoglobulin E, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C‐reactive protein: A cross‐sectional study among sawmill workers in Tangail, Bangladesh. Health Science Reports, 1-8. Web.
Schlünssen, V., Sigsgaard, T., Raulf-Heimsoth, M., & Kespohl, S. (2018). Workplace exposure to wood dust and the prevalence of wood-specific sensitization. Allergologie Select, 2(1), 101-110. Web.
Wood dust. (n.d.). 407-465.