Wood dust allergy
Respiratory and skin allergy to hardwood and softwood dust.
About wood dust allergy
Wood dust is produced when timber is sawn, sanded, routed or machined, and both hardwoods and softwoods can cause health problems. Fine dust can sensitise the airways and cause occupational asthma and rhinitis, and can also irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Some woods, particularly certain hardwoods and exotic species, are also linked to allergic contact dermatitis, and prolonged hardwood-dust exposure is associated with a rare cancer of the nose and sinuses. Joiners, carpenters, cabinet makers, sawmill workers and construction tradespeople are among the most exposed.
Sensitisation usually develops over repeated exposure, and once established, airway symptoms can appear within minutes to hours: sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, cough, chest tightness and wheeze. Skin contact may cause itchy, red or blistered patches. As with other occupational conditions, symptoms often improve during evenings, weekends and holidays and return on going back to dusty work, which helps identify a workplace cause.
Diagnosis is usually guided by occupational health and may include lung-function measurements taken at and away from work, together with patch testing for skin allergy where relevant. Management centres on controlling dust at source: local exhaust ventilation on machines, low-dust techniques, good housekeeping, avoiding dry sweeping, suitable respiratory protection and health surveillance. Confirmed occupational asthma is reportable under RIDDOR. Because continued exposure can cause lasting airway and, rarely, nasal disease, early recognition and effective dust control are important.
Common triggers
- Wood dust and products containing it
Symptoms
- Skin rash or dermatitis on exposed areas
- Sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes
- Coughing, wheezing or chest tightness
- Occupational asthma over time
Avoidance & management
- Use recommended protective equipment and ventilation
- Follow workplace exposure controls
- Wash exposed skin promptly
- Report symptoms to occupational health
- Discuss adjustments or alternatives with your employer
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.