Dataset Information

Occupational exposure to wood dust and risk of lung cancer in two population-based case-control studies in Montreal, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wood dust is one of the oldest and one of the most common occupational exposures in the world. The present analyses examine the effect of lifetime exposure to wood dust in diverse occupational settings on lung cancer risk.

Methods

We conducted two population-based case-control studies in Montreal: Study I (1979-1986) included 857 cases and two sets of controls (533 population and 1349 cancer controls), and Study II (1996-2001) comprised 736 cases and 894 population controls. Detailed job histories were obtained by interview and each job was evaluated by expert chemist-hygienists to estimate the likelihood and level of exposure to many substances, one of which was wood dust. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed in relation to different indices of exposure to wood dust, adjusting for several covariates including smoking. Three datasets were analysed: Study I with population controls, Study I with cancer controls, and Study II.

Results

The most frequently exposed occupations in our study population were in construction, timber and furniture making industries. We found increased risks of lung cancer for substantial cumulative exposure to wood dust in Study I with cancer controls, (OR?=?1.4: 95% confidence interval 1.0;-2.0) and in Study II (OR?=?1.7: 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.7). There were no excess risks of lung cancer in any of the three datasets among workers whose cumulative exposure was not substantial. These tendencies held equally within strata of low smokers and heavy smokers.

Conclusion

There was evidence of increased risk of lung cancer among workers with substantial cumulative exposure to wood dust.

SUBMITTER: Vallieres E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4417249 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Occupational exposure to wood dust and risk of lung cancer in two population-based case-control studies in Montreal, Canada.

Vallières Eric E Pintos Javier J Parent Marie-Elise ME Siemiatycki Jack J

Environmental health : a global access science source 20150107

<h4>Background</h4>Wood dust is one of the oldest and one of the most common occupational exposures in the world. The present analyses examine the effect of lifetime exposure to wood dust in diverse occupational settings on lung cancer risk.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted two population-based case-control studies in Montreal: Study I (1979-1986) included 857 cases and two sets of controls (533 population and 1349 cancer controls), and Study II (1996-2001) comprised 736 cases and 894 population cont ...[more]

PMID: 25564290

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Project description:During production, thermally modified wood is processed using the same machining operations as unmodified wood. Machining wood is always accompanied with the creation of dust particles. The smaller they become, the more hazardous they are. Employees are exposed to a greater health hazard when machining thermally modified wood because a considerable amount of fine dust is produced under the same processing conditions than in the case of unmodified wood. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that wood dust causes cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and of the nasopharynx. Wood dust is also associated with toxic effects, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, and respiratory system effects which include decreased lung capacity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and allergic reactions. In our research, granular composition of particles resulting from the process of longitudinal milling of heat-treated oak and spruce wood under variable conditions (i.e., the temperature of modification of 160, 180, 200 and 220 °C and feed rate of 6, 10 and 15 m.min-1) are presented in the paper. Sieve analysis was used to determine the granular composition of particles. An increase in fine particle fraction when the temperature of modification rises was confirmed by the research. This can be due to the lower strength of thermally modified wood. Moreover, a different effect of the temperature modification on granularity due to the tree species was observed. In the case of oak wood, changes occurred at a temperature of 160 °C and in the case of spruce wood, changes occurred at the temperatures of 200 and 220 °C. At the temperatures of modification of 200 and 220 °C, the dust fraction (i.e., that occurred in the mesh sieves, particles with the size ? 0.08 mm) ranged from 2.99% (oak wood, feed rate of 10 m.min-1) to 8.07% (spruce wood, feed rate of 6 m.min-1). Such particles might have a harmful effect on employee health in wood-processing facilities.

Dataset Information

Occupational exposure to wood dust and risk of lung cancer in two population-based case-control studies in Montreal, Canada.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Occupational exposure to wood dust and risk of lung cancer in two population-based case-control studies in Montreal, Canada.

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