Asthma among Forest Workers, Carpenters, Cabinet makers from Wood Dust: A Meta-analysis

Background Occupational asthma (OA) has become one of the most common forms of occupational lung disease in many industrialized countries. Occupational factors play a major role in respiratory diseases and symptoms. Exposure to cotton dust, wood dust may cause asthma and allergy like symptoms in forest workers, carpenters and cabinet makers. Cotton dust is the main contributor of respiratory symptoms. ‘Wood dust' refers to the inhalable fraction of dust originating from solid wood including bark. Objective To show that there is increased of asthma and sinonasal problems with prolonged exposure of wood dust among forest workers, carpenters and cabinet makers. Method Recent articles published in PubMed, Highwire and Medline have been retrieved and intensively reviewed. Result Highest Exposure was found during manual sanding and the lowest exposures during handling, packing and assembling, i.e.. when no wood working performed. Obeche may cause a health hazard to carpenters who are exposed to this dust and who may develop asthma and allergic symptoms after the exposure. Three industries commonly affected are furniture industry, builder's carpentry industry and sawmilling.

Conclusion Due to the fact that construction woodworkers often work in poorly ventilated spaces, they are at a higher risk of developing asthma hence further study is required to prevent the risk of developing asthma in forest workers, carpenters and cabinet makers. The exposure can also be reduced by using alternative materials, preparing the building material in workshops equipped with exposure controls, improved ventilation and good housekeeping.