A pilot study of personal exposure to respirable and inhalable dust during the sanding and sawing of medium density fibreboard (MDF) and soft wood.

摘要

A pilot study of production of respirable and inhalable dusts from sawing and sanding medium density fibreboard (MDF) and softwood in a typical cabinet-making workshop produced high but variable exposure levels at the bench and operator position. Exposure levels for the total inhalable fraction ( approximately < 100 microm) were 6.9 - 91 mg m( - 3) for MDF and 2.5 - 45 mg m( - 3) for softwood. For the respirable fraction ( < 10 microm) levels were 0.4 - 13 mg m( - 3) for MDF and 0.4 - 2.9 mg m( - 3) for softwood. These results show significant dust loading is produced in the coarser fraction and that the material used has a significant impact on levels produced. It suggests that fuller evaluation of operator influence of fine dust production is needed and may question the common application of a single inhalable exposure standard for wood dust to all wood working scenarios.