Evaluation of the Exposure of Wood Industry Workers to Ultrafine Particles in the Central Region

Workplaces in an industrial environment encompass complex processes, in which new models of work organization and technologies are continuously introduced and are therefore exposed to different types of professional risks, which will affect the safety, health and well-being of workers, which will consequently determine the capacity for work. Study want evaluate the occupational exposure of workers in a timber industry to particles and atmospheric pollutants. Data collection consisted of two moments of investigation, firstly a questionnaire was applied to all workers in the timber industry under study, to analyze the symptomatology perceived by the same workers. The second moment consisted of the evaluation of the air quality parameters, resorting to the evaluation of atmospheric pollutants (CO2, CO, VOC, inhalable particles, breathable particles, and ultrafine particles) and of meteorological variables Temperature and Relative Humidity. In terms of average values, the air quality parameters, for the most part, were found significantly above the exposure limit values, and the paint booth was where, in general, the highest values were found. Concentrations were generally higher inside the industry than outside. For preventing exposure to ultrafine particles, also emphasizing the need to define limit values for occupational exposure to them.