[Allergic risk factors in wood working].

After an account on wood working schedule and on the main and most noxious chemical constituents of these materials, we consider 55 subjects working in touch with wood, on whom allergological researches have been performed through skin tests and bronchial provocation tests. The sensitivity to wood dust have been found in 10 cases (18.2%), in particular towards woods of obece, lanan, mahogany and samba. Skin tests have revealed 1 positivity to balsam of Perù and 3 to isocyanate (TDI). The bronchial provocation tests have pointed out 1 positive reaction to Mansonia's and ramin's wood and 2 to TDI. The results suggest that the respiratory manifestations due to wood's dust on subjects professionally exposed, have to be prevalently imputed to exotic woods, even if the irritant factors assume a not minor importance. It is discussed the possible role of isocyanates in this pathology.