Possible risk to develop nasal cancer by occupational exposure to wood dust containing methanol and methylacetate : Investigations of wood dust using headspace-gaschromatography | Zur möglichen Kausalität methanol- und methylacetathaltiger Holzstäube an der Entstehung von malignen Nasentumoren : Untersuchungen von Holzstäuben mittels der Headspace-Gaschromatographie
1998
Bleich, S. | Hapla, F. | Sprung, R.
Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between the exposure to wood dust and nasal cancers. The highest rates of incidences are reported from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Scandinavia. The implication of formaldehyde to induce nasal cancer in rodents meanwhile is accepted in general. Contrary to this, the risk assessment of nasal cancer related to formaldehyde in humans is still a matter of debate. Several kinds of wood dusts were analyzed using GC under different conditions. Regularly, we found relatively high levels of methanol and methylacetate in samples of beech, oak, spruce and pine. When chronically exposed to processed wood dust, vapours of methanol and methylacetate combined with small dust particles are continuously inhaled and absorbed in the upper respiratory tract. Taking into account the permanent release of gaseous materials from the small wood dust particles adhering to nasal mucosa and the easy access of the released substances to exposed cells, it is feasible that under these conditions formaldehyde will be generated in-situ, continuously. The known specific toxicity of formaldehyde in statu nascendi will probably have serious impact on cell metabolism.
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