Division of Occupational Medicine and Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
Ann Work Expo Health. 2023 Apr 21;67(4):485-495. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxac100.
Dust generated from wood processing comprises a heterogeneous mixture of inorganic and organic particles, including wood fragments, microorganisms, endotoxins, (1-3)-β-d-glucans, and allergens. This study characterized exposure to wood dust and its determinants in the Mozambiquan wood processing industry.
A total of 124 personal inhalable samples, collected from a stratified random sample of 30 workers, were analysed for dust particulate, endotoxins, and (1-3)-β-d-glucans. Mixed-effects models were developed to investigate significant exposure determinants.
The geometric mean (GM) inhalable dust particulate concentrations were 3.29 mg m-3, 98 endotoxin units (EU) m-3, and 123 ng m-3 for (1-3)-β-d-glucans. Significant predictors for higher particulate levels included machinery (GMR = 1.93), sawing (GMR = 2.80), carpentry (GMR = 2.77), or painting (GMR = 3.03) tasks. Lebombo-ironwood species was associated with higher dust particulate levels (GMR = 1.97). Determinants of endotoxin concentrations included working with dry wood and damp cleaning methods, which were associated with lower levels. Working in closed buildings (GMR = 3.10) and dry sweeping methods were associated with higher (1-3)-β-d-glucan concentrations (GMR = 1.99).
Work tasks in certain exposure groups (machinery, sawing, carpentry, painting), processing certain wood species (Lebombo-ironwood) and working in closed buildings were associated with higher exposures, whilst using dry wood and damp cleaning practices reduced exposure levels.
木材加工过程中产生的粉尘由无机和有机颗粒组成，包括木屑、微生物、内毒素、（1-3）-β-d-葡聚糖和过敏原。本研究对莫桑比克木材加工行业的木材粉尘暴露及其决定因素进行了特征描述。
从 30 名工人的分层随机样本中采集了 124 份个人可吸入样本，用于分析粉尘颗粒物、内毒素和（1-3）-β-d-葡聚糖。采用混合效应模型来研究显著的暴露决定因素。
可吸入粉尘颗粒物浓度的几何平均值（GM）为 3.29mg/m3、98 个单位（EU）/m3和（1-3）-β-d-葡聚糖浓度为 123ng/m3。较高颗粒物水平的显著预测因子包括机械（GMR=1.93）、锯切（GMR=2.80）、木工（GMR=2.77）或涂漆（GMR=3.03）作业。伦博姆-铁木属树种与较高的粉尘颗粒物水平有关（GMR=1.97）。内毒素浓度的决定因素包括使用干燥木材和潮湿清洁方法，这与较低的水平有关。在封闭建筑物中工作（GMR=3.10）和干式清扫方法与较高的（1-3）-β-d-葡聚糖浓度（GMR=1.99）有关。
在某些暴露组（机械、锯切、木工、涂漆）中进行工作任务、加工某些木材种类（伦博姆-铁木属）以及在封闭建筑物中工作与较高的暴露有关，而使用干燥木材和潮湿清洁方法可降低暴露水平。
