Occupational wood dust exposures, lifestyle variables, and respiratory symptoms

Abstract

The quantitative relationship of occupational exposure to airborne wood dust with nasal and pulmonary health problems is not clearly established, particularly for low to moderate exposures in the wooden furniture manufacturing industry. We examined the associations of pulmonary and nasal symptoms, wood dust exposure, and lifestyle variables (cigarette smoking, alcohol use, overweight, physical inactivity, and stress) in a sample of 168 woodworkers. Levels of wood dust exposure were not systematically associated with symptoms. Statistically significant associations were found for cigarette smoking; after controlling for the effects of smoking, heavy drinking was significantly associated with pulmonary symptoms, and perceived stress was associated with both pulmonary and nasal symptoms. These findings suggest that studies of the effects of low-level occupational wood dust exposures should control for the potential effects of lifestyle variables.