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Wood-dust. Anyone know someone’s heal…

| Posted in General Discussion on April 14, 1999 09:39am

*
I am an Internal Medicine physician at Mayo (I used to build homes). There are multiple well described health related problems from wood dusts which are actually quite diverse. Wood dusts will commonly exacerbate asthma and chronic allergic sinus symptoms in people predisposed to these conditions. “Woodworkers Lung” is a well described hypersensitivity type reaction in the lungs of a small percentage of people exposed to chronic wood dusts. The immune system in these people seems to over-react to the dusts causing chronic lung disease. All of these problems are compounded dramatically by smoking.

There have been many studies done looking at the incidence of cancer in woodworkers. In 1994, wood dusts were classified as a carcinogen primarily because of a suspected higher incidence of nasal and sinus cancers. The data on lung cancer is much less convincing. One study suggested about a 1% higher incidence of lung cancer in woodworkers (which is almost nothing compared to the effect of smoking). It is interesting that the incidence of stomch cancer also seems to be slightly higher in woodworkers than in the general population (? from swallowing the dusts). I also would predict that the glues and adhesives in the newer wood products (OSB, etc.) will eventually be proven to be harnful.

My advise would be for smokers to quit (even more reason for carpenters) and use the appropriate masks and ventilation devices when possible. If a person is having chronic sinus and lung symptoms, it is best to follow with a doctor as there are diagnostic tests and treatments available that will probably help.

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  1. Guest_ | Apr 15, 1999 09:00am | #15

    *
    I have heard of it, but not an actual case. Wood dust. How much, how long, what effects? I personally know no-one, nor have I seen anyone affected by wood-dust. Also, does this mean fiber in your diet is bad for your health as well as a net contributer to local air pollution?

    Dennis

    1. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 12:45am | #1

      *Stormin Norman Abrahms had surgery to clean his lungs.Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology had several cases of "greenlung" that resulted in lawsuits and new wet collection scrubbers as well as dust collectors in the School of American Craftsman.I wear a mask (not the cheapies) and open the windows, but I worry about my cat - he lives in the barn and breathes saw dust all day long.-Rob

      1. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 01:04am | #2

        *Read a short paragraph in FWW within the past year that said some agency or other has classified sawdust as a class something carciogen. What ever that means it scared me into buying one of those JDS Air Tech air cleaners for my shop. Supposed to filter the air 10 time per hour. I won't swear to that, but it has made a huge difference in the air quality in there. No kidding, you can almost feel the difference - the air seems to "sparkle" or something. Best 250.00 I've spent in awhile.

        1. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 02:12am | #3

          *Yeah, it has me concerned also. My brother-in-law was, however, a 30 year+ union carpenter with no known lung problems - smoked as well. Carpal tunnel though.Dennis

          1. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 03:31am | #4

            *No, Bran Flakes are not the next air pollution scare. But sawdust has two health risks associated with it. The first, which I've experienced, is an allergic reaction to something in the wood, probably some of the oils or resins of a few species. I get a runny nose and watery eyes - like hayfever from mowing the lawn. For me, it is dosage, fineness, and species specific.But the bigger issue is the very fine particles called PM10 (smaller than 10 microns). The are so small that they don't impinge on your throat and get brought up by phlegm production. Rather; like very fine coal particle, cigarette smoke, and asbestos; they get into your lungs where there is no mechanism for physical removal - just your immune system. The immune reactions, scarring, and just plain filling up the volume of your lungs causes decreased lung function. Certainly the chemicals in cigaretter smoke and the tiny fibers of asbestos also cause cellular damage (e.g. cancer). I don't know if the myraid of chemicals in wood have been studied for that or not. Since it behooves the tree to not be very edible to animals and insects, I'd expect there are some nasty chemicals present. (Tobacco didn't evolve to contain nicotine for the benefit of RJR but because it sends the insects for a loop. RJR justs profits from it).So use a good vacuum system. Dump the exhaust outside. Use a mask. Especially when using a router. Minimizing your exposure BEFORE you develop an allergic reaction or have filled your lungs with ultra-fine particles is much easier than trying to manage once the damage has been done. -David

          2. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 05:13am | #5

            *Ten years ago put a palm sander to my first piece of teak for a threshold into a dropped livingroom...My throat closed up like a door kicked shut...Scarey I tell ya as I somehow figured out that running outside and waiting patiently my ability to breath would return in time to laugh about the stupidity of all.Warning labels aren't on everything yet!Near the stream,J

          3. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 05:23am | #6

            *This I take seriously. I routinely use a large shop vac that attaches to some of my tools, and for the sanding project I have coming up, I am going outside on a slightly breezy day. Stand up wind, blow dust to neighbors lot downwind. Dennis

          4. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 08:26am | #7

            *Friend of mine can no longer work as a cabinet maker, after several years working in a shop without dust collection, she's become highly allergic to sawdust and had to go on Workers Comp and get retrained for a different career... the moral of the story is, if you can collect it, avoid it or wear a dust mask, do so, we breathe enough crap in this trade no matter how hard we try not to, so take precautions when you can.

          5. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 08:38am | #8

            *Dennis, the answer is yes. Wood, wood dust, and aromatic resins can all be debilitating. I've experienced the allergic reaction to micron sized particles from sanding exotics. Now after sensitizing, Red Birch bothers me too. Better masks, better vacs, better venting, gloves, and cleaner work areas are key to longevity. Jack's seen the potential, it's none too pretty.

          6. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 10:27am | #9

            *Yes...Me. If it doesn't clear up in the next few years, I'll have to go in for the operation Norm underwent. I have been working with red cedar for most of the last 10 years, and had no idea. Heard about it a couple of years ago. I'm setting up the new shop right now and will go into debt a little more for the vacuum system with the 3 micron bags. If the dust is particularly thick I use a respirator.

          7. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 07:59pm | #10

            *Thanks for the information. Dennis

          8. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 09:38pm | #11

            *After a few years of using redwood outside for fascia , decks etc. with no problems I did a tub surround inside a bathroom that involved cutting with fine tooth blades and sanding with an orbital sander and had a reaction much like Jacks .It was very scary.Like the ads for the american lung association say'' when you cant breath nothing else matters". I dont know if its related or not but since then I have had occasional asthma attacks that I didnt have before.I now have a cabinet shop with dust collection and wear a mask when sanding .I will probably buy one of those air cleaners soon .Also my Dad a 30 year +carpenter and cabinetmaker has a chronic cough that Im blaming on saw dust. Chuck

          9. Roberts_Jim | Apr 14, 1999 09:39pm | #12

            *I am an Internal Medicine physician at Mayo (I used to build homes). There are multiple well described health related problems from wood dusts which are actually quite diverse. Wood dusts will commonly exacerbate asthma and chronic allergic sinus symptoms in people predisposed to these conditions. "Woodworkers Lung" is a well described hypersensitivity type reaction in the lungs of a small percentage of people exposed to chronic wood dusts. The immune system in these people seems to over-react to the dusts causing chronic lung disease. All of these problems are compounded dramatically by smoking.There have been many studies done looking at the incidence of cancer in woodworkers. In 1994, wood dusts were classified as a carcinogen primarily because of a suspected higher incidence of nasal and sinus cancers. The data on lung cancer is much less convincing. One study suggested about a 1% higher incidence of lung cancer in woodworkers (which is almost nothing compared to the effect of smoking). It is interesting that the incidence of stomch cancer also seems to be slightly higher in woodworkers than in the general population (? from swallowing the dusts). I also would predict that the glues and adhesives in the newer wood products (OSB, etc.) will eventually be proven to be harnful.My advise would be for smokers to quit (even more reason for carpenters) and use the appropriate masks and ventilation devices when possible. If a person is having chronic sinus and lung symptoms, it is best to follow with a doctor as there are diagnostic tests and treatments available that will probably help.

          10. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 10:50pm | #13

            *hey Roberts Jim - great post, thanks

          11. Guest_ | Apr 14, 1999 11:52pm | #14

            *Roberts, Jim, nice post, thanks for the information.Dennis

          12. Guest_ | Apr 15, 1999 09:00am | #16

            *Lawrence, one thing that would help... move the dust collection unit out of the shop environment. When I was woodworking at a large shop, we moved all the collectors to the exterior, under a enclosed shed addition. What an amazing improvement. All the sub 5 micron particles that used to be suspended in the air were transported to the exterior, where they'd coat our vehicles instead.

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