The impact of environmental contamination on the health of sawmill workers Abstract This study analyzed the biological and microbial quality of the air in 17 Quebec sawmills employing more then 1 200 workers and processing various types of wood, and evaluated potential respiratory hazards faced by workers. The concentration of airborne microbial contaminants, inhalable dusts and endotoxins were measured at each stage of production (debarking, sawing, planing and sorting). The highest concentrations of moulds, endotoxins and bacteria were observed at debarking stations, and the highest dust concentrations at planing stations. Penicillium sp. was the most common mould observed. Workers’ respiratory function was normal and most observed symptoms were smoking-related. The prevalence of positive skin reactions to spruce was higher among workers from spruce sawmills than among other workers. In conclusion, no respiratory problems were observed among workers in Quebec sawmills, despite the high concentrations of biological contaminants found in the workplace air. Nevertheless, some workers with circulating antibodies or demonstrated skin allergies may be at risk of developing asthma or allergic alveolitis. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Air quality in Québec sawmills and its impact on the health of sawmill workers: effect of work sites and wood species on the quality of the environment Research Report: R-224 Simplified Articles Qualité de l'air dans les scieriesMalgré la présence de contaminants, la santé respiratoire des travailleurs n'est pas globalement compromise. Volume 13, n0 4 Scientific Publications Airborne contamination in eastern Canadian sawmills: Lack of IgG response despite high exposure levelsDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Cormier Y.Source : American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medecine, vol. 159, no 3, Part 2, March 1999, p. A234Usefulness of using three different culture media for mold recovery in exposure assessment studiesDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Comtois P.Source : Aerobiologia, vol. 18, no 3/4, 2002, p. 245-251Comparison of filter dust sampling and liquid impingement in environmental entodoxin measurementDuchaine C., Thorne P. S., Mériaux A., Grimard Y., Cormier Y.Source : Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 67, p. 2775-2780Effectiveness if liquid impinger sampling for endotoxin exposure assessmentDuchaine C., Cormier Y., Mériaux A., Grimard Y., Whitten P., Thorne P. S.Source : Health Research in Rural and Remote Canada: The Next Steps" : Conference of the Consortium for Rural Health Research (October 18 - 21, 2001 : Saskatoon, SK, Canada), 2001Effectiveness if liquid impinger sampling for endotoxin exposure assessmentDuchaine C., Cormier Y., Mériaux A., Grimard Y., Whitten P., Thorne P. S.Source : American Society for Microbiology 101st General Meeting (101st : May 20-24, 2001 : Orlando, Florida), 2002Airborne contamination in Eastern Canadian sawmills: lack of IgG response despite high exposure levelsDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Cormier Y.Source : Rural and Remote Health: Exploring the Issues (October 21-23, 2000 : Ottawa, Canada), 2000Respiratory impact of working in eastern canadian sawmillsCormier Y., Mériaux A., Duchaine C.Source : Archives of Environmental Health, vol. 55, 2000, p. 424-430Assessment of particulates and bioaerosols in Eastern Canada sawmillsDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Thorne P. S., Cormier Y.Source : American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, vol. 61: p. 727-732Airborne Microfungi from Eastern Canadian SawmillsDuchaine C., Mériaux A.Source : Canadian Journal of Microbiology, vol. 46, 2000, p. 612-617The airborne mycoflora of sawmills: the usefulness of three different culture media for mold recoveryDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Comtois P.Source : American Society for Microbiology general meeting (May 21-25, 2000 : Los Angeles, California), 2000Respiratory health of eastern canadian sawmill workers: impact of airborne contaminationCormier Y., Mériaux A., Duchaine C.Source : in American Lung Association / American Thoracic Society International Conference (May 5-20, 2000 : Toronto, Canada), 2000Airborne Contamination of Eastern Canada SawmillsDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Cormier Y.Source : in Bioaerosols, Fungi and Mycotoxins: Health Effects, Assessment, Prevention and Control. E. Johanning, E. (ed.). Albany, NY, Eastern New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center, 1999 Bioaérosols dans les scieries du Québec et impact sur la santé respiratoire des travailleursDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Bédard G., Cormier Y.Source : in Réunion annuelle conjointe de l’Association des pneumologues du Québec et de la Société de thoracologie du Québec (2 octobre, 1999 : Laval, Canada), 1999Airborne contamination in 17 sawmills of Eastern CanadaDuchaine C., Mériaux A., Cormier Y.Source : in 3rd International Conference on Bioaerosols, Fungi, and Mycotoxins (September 23-25, 1998 : Saratoga Springs, New York), 1998 Other Project(s) You May be Interested in Use of molecular tools for studying fungal diversity in aerosols Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0094-1330 Status: Completed Year of completion: 1999 Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention Team: Yvon Cormier (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Caroline Duchaine (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Anne Mériaux (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Gaétane Racine-Bédard (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Serge Simard (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)