Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Overview

Research on Wood Dust and Cancer

Other Related Conditions

Recommended Exposure Limits

Occupations at Risk

Hazards and Precautions

Hard woods from deciduous trees confer more risk than soft woods from evergreens, and geographic location may factor in as well. While wood dust is more strongly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, people who are exposed to on-the-job wood dust or who work in occupations associated with the dust have elevated rates of lung cancer. Learn more about wood dust exposure, the current safety limits, and other medical conditions that are associated with wood dust exposure.

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Carpenter at work

Wood Dust and Lung Cancer

Wood dust is one of the oldest occupational exposures known to man, and it’s still very important today for people who work with cabinetry or in mills.

Occupational Risk and Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a multifactorial disease with severalrisk factors. For example,asbestos exposureandsmokingcan cause lung cancer, and having both risks together further increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.

So if you already have one or more risk factors for lung cancer, it makes sense to avoid wood dust exposure, which might add to your risk.

Wood Dust as a Carcinogen

Wood dust is considered a Group Icarcinogen, a substanceknownto cause cancer in humans. Wood dust is made up of a conglomeration of different substances derived from hardwood or softwood trees.

Hard Woods vs. Soft Woods

Several of the studies on wood dust and lung cancer distinguish between softwood dust and hardwood dust, with hardwood dust being significantly more likely to cause cancer.

But what constitutes hardwood and what are softwoods?

Many studies have looked at the relationship between wood dust and cancer. A 2015 review of 70 studies found that the strongest link between wood dust and cancer is the risk ofnasal adenocarcinoma(a head and neck cancer). Overall, it was found that there is low to moderate evidence that wood dust can lead to lung cancer as well.

Wood dust has long been known to lead to medical conditions other than cancer. These include:

Skin Rashes (Dermatitis)

Skin rashes related to wood dust are common and have been found with exposure to dust from over 300 different types of trees. The rashes, itching, and redness can arise due to skin irritation or from allergic reactions.

Respiratory Allergies

Allergic reactions such asallergic asthmaare common with wood dust exposure. The best-known reaction is a reaction to red cedar, to which 5% of workers are allergic. Wood dust is considered one of the top 10 causes of occupational asthma in the U.K.

Respiratory Symptoms Unrelated to Allergies

Nasal symptoms, such as itching, dryness, coughing, wheezing, and repeated episodes of sinusitis are linked to wood dust exposure.

Decreased Lung Function

Though noted more with softwoods, exposure to wood dust may result in decreasedpulmonary function. In addition, exposure to wood dust can disrupt the cilia, the small hair-like structures in the respiratory tree that remove inhaled toxins from the airways.

OSHA recommends an eight-hour exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 for hard wood and soft wood.

An exception is red cedar wood dust, for which the eight-hour limit is 2.5 mg/m3 due to its potential to cause allergic reactions.

Occupations that result in high wood dust exposure include:

Using machinery to manipulate wood results in the highest exposure. This includes chipping, sanding, drilling, and shaping.

In addition to following the limits for eight-hour exposure to wood dust, there are many things that employers and employees can do to minimize exposure.

Some basic recommendations include:

Check out OSHA’s information coveringpotential hazards and possible solutionswith regard to on-the-job wood dust exposure to learn about ways to reduce the amount of wood dust you inhale at work.

Other Potential Exposures in Wood Working

It’s important to note that people who work with wood can also have exposure to other toxic substances. Chemicals such as glue and varnishes can also be a risk factor for cancer.

Make sure to read the Material Data Safety Sheets on all substances you are exposed to at work.

That said, always practice good ventilation while working with wood and with any chemicals. Always read labels and follow the recommendations. If a label recommends using gloves or a mask, heed those instructions.

A Word From Verywell

It can be discouraging as you consider cancer risks with specific exposures. You may catch yourself saying, “Doesn’t everything cause cancer?” Yet, learning about these risks, and taking action, doesn’t mean that you need to become a fanatic. There are often very simple measures you can take to reduce your risk.

Employers now have guidelines that specify the quantity and amount of time that a person may be exposed to wood dust without raising the risk of cancer. That said, it is important for employees to be aware of these guidelines and follow them, and to speak up if appropriate attention to these limits is not followed in their place of work.

Whether or not you are exposed to wood dust, take the time to check out thesetips for lowering your risk of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women andlung cancer in never-smokersis the 6th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alonso-Sardon, M., Chamorro, A., Hernandez-Garcia, I. et al.Association Between Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0133024.Hancock, D., Langley, M., Chia, K., Woodman, R., and E. Shanahan.Wood Dust Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis.Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2015. 72(12):889-98.Vallieres, E., Pintos, J., Parent, M., and J. Siemiatycki.Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Risk of Lung Cancer in Two Population-Based Case-Control Studies in Montreal, Canada.Environmental Health. 2015. 14:1.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Wood Dust. Updated 11/29/18.Holm, S., and J. Festa.A Review of Wood Dust Longitudinal Health Studies: Implications for an Occupational Limit Value.Dose Response.2019.Shankar, A., Dubey, A., Saini, D. et al.Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Lung Cancer.Translational Lung Cancer Research.2019. 8(Suppl 1):S31-S49.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alonso-Sardon, M., Chamorro, A., Hernandez-Garcia, I. et al.Association Between Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0133024.Hancock, D., Langley, M., Chia, K., Woodman, R., and E. Shanahan.Wood Dust Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis.Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2015. 72(12):889-98.Vallieres, E., Pintos, J., Parent, M., and J. Siemiatycki.Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Risk of Lung Cancer in Two Population-Based Case-Control Studies in Montreal, Canada.Environmental Health. 2015. 14:1.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Wood Dust. Updated 11/29/18.Holm, S., and J. Festa.A Review of Wood Dust Longitudinal Health Studies: Implications for an Occupational Limit Value.Dose Response.2019.Shankar, A., Dubey, A., Saini, D. et al.Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Lung Cancer.Translational Lung Cancer Research.2019. 8(Suppl 1):S31-S49.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Alonso-Sardon, M., Chamorro, A., Hernandez-Garcia, I. et al.Association Between Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0133024.Hancock, D., Langley, M., Chia, K., Woodman, R., and E. Shanahan.Wood Dust Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis.Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2015. 72(12):889-98.Vallieres, E., Pintos, J., Parent, M., and J. Siemiatycki.Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Risk of Lung Cancer in Two Population-Based Case-Control Studies in Montreal, Canada.Environmental Health. 2015. 14:1.

Alonso-Sardon, M., Chamorro, A., Hernandez-Garcia, I. et al.Association Between Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0133024.

Hancock, D., Langley, M., Chia, K., Woodman, R., and E. Shanahan.Wood Dust Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis.Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2015. 72(12):889-98.

Vallieres, E., Pintos, J., Parent, M., and J. Siemiatycki.Occupational Exposure to Wood Dust and Risk of Lung Cancer in Two Population-Based Case-Control Studies in Montreal, Canada.Environmental Health. 2015. 14:1.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Wood Dust. Updated 11/29/18.Holm, S., and J. Festa.A Review of Wood Dust Longitudinal Health Studies: Implications for an Occupational Limit Value.Dose Response.2019.Shankar, A., Dubey, A., Saini, D. et al.Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Lung Cancer.Translational Lung Cancer Research.2019. 8(Suppl 1):S31-S49.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Wood Dust. Updated 11/29/18.

Holm, S., and J. Festa.A Review of Wood Dust Longitudinal Health Studies: Implications for an Occupational Limit Value.Dose Response.2019.

Shankar, A., Dubey, A., Saini, D. et al.Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Lung Cancer.Translational Lung Cancer Research.2019. 8(Suppl 1):S31-S49.

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