Health effects of working in pulp and paper mills: Exposure, obstructive airways diseases, hypersensitivity reactions, and cardiovascular diseases

✍ Scribed by Kjell Torén; Stig Hagberg; Håkan Westberg

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1004 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199602)29:2<111::aid-ajim1>3.0.co;2-v

✦ Synopsis

Workers in the pulp and paper industry are e.rposed to different substances, ,such as hydrogen sulfide and other reduced suljiur compounds, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, terpenes, und paper dust. The exposure level depends on the process, i.e., sulfite, sulfate, groundwood, bleachery, or paper production. Hitherto, exposures have been poorly described and more studies are certainly needed.

Workers with repeated exposure peaks to chlorine, e.g., bleachery workers, seem to have art impaired lung function and un increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Exposure to high levels of paper dust, (>5 mg/m ') causes impaired lung furic~tion. Tlierefore, exposure to respiratory irritants is an important, mid probablj overlooked, occupational risk atnong certain groups of pulp and paper workers.

Sonie studies indicate that sulfate workers with high exposure to reduced sulfur compounds have an increased mortalip due to ischemic heart disease. However, before any definite conclusions can be drawn, the impact of important corlfnunders, such as shift-work and smoking habits have to be further evaluated. 0 1996 Wdey-Liss.