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

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 1.20–3.47). 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.