Nasal Problems in Wood Furniture Workers: A Study of Symptoms and Physiological Variables

Abstract

The occurrence of symptoms from the upper airways in the furniture industry was studied by means of a questionnaire which was answered by 676 wood furniture workers from 50 different factories. Twenty per cent reported nasal hypersecretion and 40% nasal obstruction. A randomized sample of 61 workers was investigated further. Rhinomanometry confirmed the sense of nasal obstruction objectively. The air-conditioning capacity was normal. Nasal clearance was reduced in 54% of the wood-workers. Spirometry revealed a significantly reduced forced expiratory vital capacity in the investigated workers, compared with a normal reference material. The mean concentration of wood dust was 2.0 mg/m³ air (range 0.30–5.06 mg/m³). These results have initiated further allergological and morphological studies in wood furniture workers.

Key Words:

• Rhinomanometry
• air conditioning capacity
• clearance