Both the skin and respiratory system can become sensitized to wood dust.
Other common symptoms associated with wood dust exposure include skin and eye irritation; nasal dryness and obstruction; and prolonged colds.
Exposure to wood dust has long been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects, mucosal and non-allergic respiratory effects, and cancer. Contact with the irritant compounds in wood sap can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions. The respiratory effects of wood dust exposure include asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and chronic bronchitis.
Both hand-held and stationary wood working tools such as circular saws, table saws, drills, planer, jigsaws, routers and orbital sanders have the potential to emit high levels of hand arm vibration and noise.
- Assessment of exposure to hard and soft wood dusts
- Exposure to formaldehyde, isocyanates and other binding agents in the manufactured timber product industry
- Workplace noise exposure
Useful Resources and Links:
