Wood dust – inhalable fraction. Documentation of proposed values of occupational exposure limits (OELs)

Abstract

Wood is a raw material of the wood industry. Exposure to dust from deciduous trees (hardwood) or from a mixture with coniferous species (softwood) is correlated with nasopharyngeal adenocarcinomas. Occupational asthma is the result of actions of the biologically active compounds pre¬sent in some wood species (both hardwood and softwood). Hardwood and softwood dusts may impair clear airway, resulting in chronic lung disease. Taking into account the health effects and the socio-economic conditions of enterprises presented by the European Commission, we propose to lower the current TLV value from 3 mg/m3 to 2 mg/m3 for the inhalable fraction of wood dust, with the note that the TLV value applies to all types of wood dust. The proposed value corresponds to the binding value proposed by the European Commission (BOELV) for the inhalable fraction of hardwood dusts set at 2 mg/m3, taking into account the socio-economic conditions of enterprises. This value will apply in Poland and EU countries from January 18, 2023. The Commission of the European Union included research on exposure to hard and mixed wood dust to technological processes classified as carcino¬genic to humans (Directive 2017/2398/EC) and indicating that if there is a mixture of hardwood dust with other wood dust then MAC refers to the total wood dust present in the mixture. Due to the fact that wood dusts are carcinogenic, mutagenic and cause pneumoco¬niosis, the determination of STEL values is unjustified. Wood dust was labeled as a carcinogen with Annex 1 to the Regulation of Ministry of Health, and with letter “A” because of possible sensitization.