Work-related airways disease and risk factors in Mozambiquan wood processing workers

Abstract

Background: Inhalation of wood dust particulates, bioaerosols and chemical components cause airway disease of a sensitising or irritative nature. Aims: This study investigated the disease burden and factors associated with work-related airways disease among wood processors. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 450 workers from 21 Mozambican wood mill and furniture industries. Work-related asthma (WAS) and work-related ocular-nasal (WONS) symptoms were evaluated, using European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire. Objective assessments included spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and Phadiatop tests. Results: The average age was 38 years, three-quarters did not smoke and almost half were atopic. The proportion of workers with WAS was 14% and WONS was 40%. There were 3% that demonstrated bronchial reversibility, 16% fixed airway obstruction and 5% with FeNO > 50 ppb. WONS was positively correlated with female sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–5.90] and atopy (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.203.47). Bronchial reversibility was associated with increasing age (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.10), atopy correlated with high FeNO (OR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.09–7.44). Processing Mutondo wood was positively correlated with WAS (ORadj = 3.68, 95% CI 1.58–8.58), and WONS (ORadj = 9.34, 95% CI 4.54–19.20). Certain wood types, Missanda (ORadj = 6.84, 95% CI 4.17–11.20), Panga-panga (ORadj = 2.31 95% CI 1.49–3.60) and Mahogany bean (ORadj = 2.52, 95% CI 1.41–4.51) were primarily correlated with WONS. Conclusions: Mozambiquan wood processors experience significant work-related airway disease attributable to dust particulate. Mutondo wood type, was positively correlated with both lower and upper airway symptoms, whereas other species were linked only to upper airway symptoms.