Exposure to monoterpenes in Finnish sawmills

The Finnish sawmill industry employs about 12,000 workers. The majority of these workers are involved in the production of lumber from spruce and pine, the main tree species used in Finnish sawmills. During sawing, the monoterpenes alpha -pinene, beta -pinene, Delta super(3)-carene and limonene, the main volatile compounds present in the sawing fumes, are released into the work environment. Terpenes are irritating to skin and mucous membranes and continued exposure may result in allergic contact dermatitis [Dooms-Goossens et al., 1977; Eriksson et al., 1996; Falk Filipsson, 1996]. The aim of the study was to evaluate the exposure of sawmill workers, especially those working in the sawhouse, to sawing fumes. In Finland, there are no exposure limits for the individual monoterpenes. However, when assessing exposure to sawing fumes, the occupational exposure limit (OEL) value for turpentine, 570 mg/m super(3), is used. Three sawmills participated in the study: one processed only spruce, one only pine, and the other, both species. The measurements were done in the summer and winter seasons during one work shift on three consecutive days.