Wood Dust Exposure Levels and Respiratory Symptoms 6 Years Apart: An Observational Intervention Study Within the Danish Furniture Industry.

Objectives: Occupational exposure to wood dust can cause respiratory diseases, but few studies have evaluated the impact of declining exposure on health outcome. This study aimed to investigate whether a decline in wood dust exposure between two cross sectional studies performed in 1997-1998 and 2003-2004 was related to the prevalences of respiratory symptoms among woodworkers in a well-defined geographical area.

Methods: Two thousand and thirty-two woodworkers from 54 plants in study 1 and 1889 woodworkers from 52 plants in study 2 returned a questionnaire on respiratory diseases and symptoms, employment and smoking habits.

Prenatal Exposure to Nitrate from Drinking Water and Markers of Fetal Growth Restriction: A Population-Based Study of Nearly One Million Danish-Born Children.

Background: High levels of nitrate () in drinking water cause methemoglobinemia in infants; however, few studies have examined the potential effects of low-level exposure on fetal growth, and the results have been inconsistent.

Objectives: We sought to assess the association between maternal exposure to nitrate in drinking water during pregnancy and offspring size at birth in a nationwide study of full-term ( gestation) live-born singletons.

Methods: We estimated maternal nitrate exposure for 898,206 births in Denmark during 1991-2011 by linkage of individual home address(es) with nitrate data from the national monitoring database.

Dust exposure and the impact on hospital readmission of farming and wood industry workers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives It is still not well established how occupational air pollutants affect the prognosis of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study uses nationwide Danish registers and quantitative dust industry exposure matrices (IEM) for the farming and wood industries to estimate whether previous year dust exposure level impacts hospital readmissions for workers diagnosed with asthma or COPD. Methods We identified all individuals with a first diagnosis of either asthma (769 individuals) or COPD (342 individuals) between 1997 and 2007 and followed them until the next hospital admission for asthma or COPD, emigration, death or 31 December 2007.

Cross-shift and longitudinal changes in FEV1 among wood dust exposed workers.

Objectives: Acute lung function (LF) changes might predict an accelerated decline in LF. In this study, we investigated the association between cross-shift and longitudinal changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) among woodworkers in a 6-year follow-up study.

Methods: 817 woodworkers and 136 controls participated with cross-shift changes of FEV(1) at baseline and FEV(1) and forced vital capacity at follow-up.

Predictors of monoterpene exposure in the Danish furniture industry.

Objectives: Individuals who work with pine in the furniture industry may be exposed to monoterpenes, the most abundant of which are α-pinene, β-pinene, and Δ(3)-carene. Monoterpenes are suspected to cause dermatitis and to harm the respiratory system. An understanding of the predictors of monoterpene exposure is therefore important in preventing these adverse effects.

Immunoglobulin E-mediated sensitization to pine and beech dust in relation to wood dust exposure levels and respiratory symptoms in the furniture industry.

Objectives: Wood dust exposure may cause Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic diseases. Our objectives were to estimate pine and beech dust sensitization rates among woodworkers and a reference group, explore the association between exposure and sensitization and between sensitization and respiratory symptoms, and finally investigate the impact of proteinogenic specific IgE (sIgE) epitopes on respiratory symptoms.

Methods: In a Danish study among 52 furniture factories and 2 reference factories, we evaluated the workers' asthma and rhinitis status using questionnaires and blood samples collected from 1506 woodworkers and 195 references.

Non-malignant respiratory diseases and occupational exposure to wood dust. Part II. Dry wood industry.

This paper reviews the literature on associations between dry wood dust exposure and non-malignant respiratory diseases. Criteria for inclusion are epidemiological studies in English language journals with an internal or external control group describing relationships between dry wood dust exposure and respiratory diseases or symptoms. Papers took into consideration smoking and when dealing with lung function age.

Non-malignant respiratory diseases and occupational exposure to wood dust. Part I. Fresh wood and mixed wood industry.

This paper reviews associations in literature between exposure to wood dust from fresh wood and non-malignant respiratory diseases. Criteria for inclusion are epidemiological studies in English language journals with an internal or external control group describing relationships between wood dust exposure and respiratory diseases or symptoms. The papers took into account smoking, and when dealing with lung function took age into consideration.

Impact of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants on wood dust sensitization.

Background: Occupational wood dust exposure can induce allergy and may be one cause of respiratory health problems among woodworkers.

Objective: The objective was to determine the prevalence and quantitative level of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to beech and pine wood in exposed workers. Wood sensitization was specified with regard to cross-reactivity and was correlated to the reported symptoms.

Increased incidence of respiratory symptoms among female woodworkers exposed to dry wood.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of new respiratory symptoms in relation to wood dust exposure in a 6-yr follow-up study. A total of 1,377 woodworkers (1,137 males; 240 females) and 297 reference workers (137 males; 160 females) participated. Data on respiratory symptoms, employment and smoking habits were collected.

Determinants of wood dust exposure in the Danish furniture industry--results from two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart.

Objectives: This paper investigates determinants of wood dust exposure and trends in dust level in the furniture industry of Viborg County, Denmark, using data from two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart.

Methods: During the winter 1997/1998, 54 factories were visited (hereafter study 1). In the winter 2003/2004, 27 factories were revisited, and personal dust measurements were repeated.

Longitudinal lung function decline and wood dust exposure in the furniture industry.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between change in lung function and cumulative exposure to wood dust. In total, 1,112 woodworkers (927 males, 185 females) and 235 reference workers (104 males, 185 females) participated in a 6-yr longitudinal study. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC), height and weight were measured, and questionnaire data on respiratory symptoms, wood dust exposure and smoking habits were collected.

Cross-shift changes in FEV1 in relation to wood dust exposure: the implications of different exposure assessment methods.

Background: Exposure-response analyses in occupational studies rely on the ability to distinguish workers with regard to exposures of interest.

Aims: To evaluate different estimates of current average exposure in an exposure-response analysis on dust exposure and cross-shift decline in FEV1 among woodworkers.

Methods: Personal dust samples (n = 2181) as well as data on lung function parameters were available for 1560 woodworkers from 54 furniture industries.

Indices of asthma among atopic and non-atopic woodworkers.

Aims: To investigate the relation between wood dust exposure and different indices of asthma among woodworkers and non-exposed subjects.

Methods: A total of 302 woodworkers and 71 non-exposed subjects answered a respiratory health questionnaire, underwent a non-specific bronchial provocation test using the Yan method, and received a skin prick test with 12 common inhalant allergens. Subgroups performed repeated peak flow monitoring and underwent a reversibility test.

Only few workers exposed to wood dust are detected with specific IgE against pine wood.

Background: Our aim was to investigate the frequency of pine allergy in woodworkers with respiratory symptoms and to identify high molecular weight allergens in pine wood extracts.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study we examined work-related respiratory symptoms in 2033 furniture workers and 474 controls by questionnaires. Clinical examination was performed in 365 wood dust exposed and 116 nonexposed subjects.

[An outbreak of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate in an anaerobic sealant].

We report an outbreak of occupational contact dermatitis from an anaerobic sealant. This diagnosis was given to 12 out of 48 exposed workers at two Danish refrigerator factories. Six workers showed a positive patch test reaction to 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, a constituent of the sealant.

Determinants of wood dust exposure in the Danish furniture industry.

This paper investigates the relation between wood dust exposure in the furniture industry and occupational hygiene variables. During the winter 1997-98 54 factories were visited and 2362 personal, passive inhalable dust samples were obtained; the geometric mean was 0.95 mg/m(3) and the geometric standard deviation was 2.

Nasal patency is related to dust exposure in woodworkers.

Objectives: A cross sectional study of 54 furniture factories and three control factories was conducted to investigate the relation between subjective and objective nasal obstruction and exposure to wood dust.

Methods: Acoustic rhinometry was performed on 161 woodworkers and 19 controls. For each person, four measuring rounds were performed: before work, after 4 hours of work, and after 7 hours of work before and after decongestion.

Respiratory symptoms and lung function among Danish woodworkers.

A cross-sectional study including 54 furniture factories and three control factories was conducted to survey lung function and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among woodworkers. Spirometry was performed on 2423 persons. Questionnaires regarding respiratory symptoms and wood dust exposure were completed by 2033 woodworkers and 474 controls.

Variations in exposure to inhalable wood dust in the Danish furniture industry. Within- and between-worker and factory components estimated from passive dust sampling.

Variability of exposure to wood dust at large factories in the Danish furniture industry was studied. Three repeated exposure measurements of 292 workers at 38 factories were included in the study. The measurements were carried out by use of personal passive dust monitors.

Wood dust exposure in the Danish furniture industry using conventional and passive monitors.

A study of wood dust exposure at furniture factories in one county in Denmark was performed as a cross sectional study. Dust exposure was measured with personal passive dust monitors and calibrated against active sampling on filters. Measurements of 1685 workers were included in the exposure assessment.

Selection bias in determining the age dependence of waiting time to pregnancy.

Many studies have found decreased fecundability, that is, the ability to conceive in a menstrual cycle, with increasing female age. To evaluate the effect of maternal age on waiting time to pregnancy, the authors reviewed hospital charts of all pregnant women attending prophylactic antenatal care at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, during 1972-1987. Only the first pregnancy of each woman and only planned pregnancies were included (n = 14,754).