Wood Dust Monitoring
Hardwood and softwood dust inhalable fraction exposure assessment
What Is Wood Dust Monitoring?
Wood dust monitoring measures inhalable dust exposure in workers machining, sanding, cutting, or handling timber products. Hardwood dust is classified as carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1), causing nasal adenocarcinoma and sinonasal cancer.
The WES is 1 mg/m³ for hardwood dust and 5 mg/m³ for softwood dust (inhalable fraction, TWA-8h). Mixed-wood environments default to the lower hardwood limit. Effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) at woodworking machinery is the primary control measure.
How Is It Done?
Personal sampling via IOM inhalable sampler with pre-weighed filter. Gravimetric analysis. Species identification by microscopy if required.
When You Need This
- +Woodworking operations — sawing, routing, sanding, turning
- +Furniture and cabinet manufacturing
- +Timber milling and processing
- +LEV performance verification after installation or modification
- +Health surveillance programme for wood dust workers
Relevant Standards
Common Industries
Related Monitoring
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