Wood Dusts

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Lars Yman, Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden
 
Handling of wood causes different kinds of occupational diseases. Timber being stored under conditions other than absolutely dry is an excellent substrate for mold growth. Several species are involved in occupational allergic diseases among workers in sawmills. Testing for IgE antibodies in these diseases should be done with the appropriate mold reagents (1).
 
Manufacturing based on wood raw materials often expose workers to fine dust of the wooden material (2). These dusts contain a variety of chemicals causing irritation and, presumably, type IV (T-cell) sensitization but are not generally known to be involved in IgE mediated reactions. Such substances include resins, balsams, terpene derivatives, and tannic acids.
 
On the other hand, some types of tropical wood have been shown to cause IgE mediated reactions. Wood from Triplochiton scleroxylon (Sterculiaceae), called obeche or abachi, is an example (3, 4). Members of this family produce exsudates (like a latex) containing carbohydrate gums and most probably soluble proteins. It is reasonable to assume that the allergens that have been shown to cause immediate type symptoms are among these proteins.
 
Euonymus europaeus, Celastraceae (spindle tree), an extremely toxic plant, is another example (5). The entire plant contains digitaloids and alcaloids which have been blamed for many of the reactions experienced by wood carvers and others. However, this tree and others from the same genus also produce a latex that can be used for production of guttapercha. Proteins from the latex can be allergenic to persons exposed and can also be bound to solid phases for IgE antibody measurement.
 
Thuja plicata, finally, contains a low molecular weight substance called plicatic acid. This is said to act as a hapten and to be bound to albumin (6, 7).
 
IgE antibodies to wood can consequently be found. However, the majority of woods are not containing latex or compounds spontaneously binding to proteins and IgE antibodies to wood itself therefore appear to be rare. It seems relevant, though, to consider, as part of an allergy investigation, the botanical origin of the material suspected.
 

References:

    1. Belin, L. (1985). "Health problems caused by actinomycetes and molds in the industrial environment." Allergy 40, Suppl 3: 24-9.
    2. Ahman, M., M. van Hage Hamsten, et al. (1995). "IgE-mediated allergy to wood dusts probably does not explain the high prevalence of respiratory symptoms among Swedish woodwork teachers." Allergy 50: 559-62.
    3. Hinojosa, M., I. Moneo, et al. (1984). "Asthma caused by African maple (Triplochiton scleroxylon) wood dust." J Allergy Clin Immunol 74: 782-6.
    4. Reijula, K., V. Kujala, et al. (1994). "Sauna builder's asthma caused by obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) dust." Thorax 49: 622-3.
    5. Herold, D. A., R. Wahl, et al. (1991). "Occupational wood-dust sensitivity from Euonymus europaeus (spindle tree) and investigation of cross reactivity between E.e. wood and Artemisia vulgaris pollen (mugwort)." Allergy 46: 186-90.
    6. Cartier, A., H. Chan, et al. (1986). "Occupational asthma caused by eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) with demonstration that plicatic acid is present in this wood dust and is the causal agent." J Allergy Clin Immunol 77: 639-45.
    7. Chan Yeung, M. (1994). "Mechanism of occupational asthma due to western red cedar (Thuja plicata)." Am J Ind Med 25: 13-8.
1996