<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Wood processing is usually performed in environments with large amounts of endotoxin-rich bioaerosols that are associated with a variety of health effects. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the relation between endotoxin levels in settled and airborne dust in wood-processing industry. Ten pairs of airborne and settled dust samples were collected in a sawmill and parquet manufacture of two wood-processing plants in Croatia. Endotoxin was assayed with a chromogenic end-point LAL (<italic>Limulus</italic> amebocyte lysate) method. The results showed that endotoxin levels in airborne respirable dust were above the proposed occupational exposure limit of 125 EU m-3 and could be considered hazardous for the respiratory system. In settled dust they ranged between 229.7 EU mg-1 and 604.3 EU mg-1 and in airborne dust between 166.8 EU mg-1 and 671.6 EU m-3, but there was no significant correlation between them (Spearman's rho=0.358, P=0.310). This study points to sawmill settled dust as endotoxin reservoir and suggests that it may add to already high exposure to airborne endotoxins associated with wood processing. Investigations of the relation between settled and airborne endotoxin levels should be continued to better understand the sources and sites of endotoxin contamination in wood-processing industry.</abstract>

Wood processing is usually performed in environments with large amounts of endotoxin-rich bioaerosols that are associated with a variety of health effects. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the relation between endotoxin levels in settled and airborne dust in wood-processing industry. Ten pairs of airborne and settled dust samples were collected in a sawmill and parquet manufacture of two wood-processing plants in Croatia. Endotoxin was assayed with a chromogenic end-point LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate) method. The results showed that endotoxin levels in airborne respirable dust were above the proposed occupational exposure limit of 125 EU m-3 and could be considered hazardous for the respiratory system. In settled dust they ranged between 229.7 EU mg-1 and 604.3 EU mg-1 and in airborne dust between 166.8 EU mg-1 and 671.6 EU m-3, but there was no significant correlation between them (Spearman's rho=0.358, P=0.310). This study points to sawmill settled dust as endotoxin reservoir and suggests that it may add to already high exposure to airborne endotoxins associated with wood processing. Investigations of the relation between settled and airborne endotoxin levels should be continued to better understand the sources and sites of endotoxin contamination in wood-processing industry.

Endotoxin Exposure Assessment in Wood-Processing Industry: Airborne Versus Settled Dust Levels

Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

Wood processing is usually performed in environments with large amounts of endotoxin-rich bioaerosols that are associated with a variety of health effects. The...

Endotoxin Exposure Assessment in Wood-Processing Industry: Airborne Versus Settled Dust Levels

Published Online: Jun 25, 2010

Page range: 161 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-1996

Keywords
aerosolizirana prašina, bioaerosoli, LAL-test, proizvodnja parketa, pilana, sedimentirana prašina

This content is open access.

Endotoxin Exposure Assessment in Wood-Processing Industry: Airborne Versus Settled Dust Levels

Published Online: Jun 25, 2010

Page range: 161 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-1996

Keywordsaerosolizirana prašina, bioaerosoli, LAL-test, proizvodnja parketa, pilana, sedimentirana prašina

This content is open access.

Keywords
aerosolizirana prašina, bioaerosoli, LAL-test, proizvodnja parketa, pilana, sedimentirana prašina