Inhalable Wood Dust Produced During Chainsaw Operations

Wood dust produced during chainsaw operations can pose a significant risk to the health of workers. In this work, the wood dust total suspended particles (TSP), and the respirable fraction (PM4) were sampled by active filtering with personal air samplers. Wood logs of three different species (Eucalyptus sp., Pinus radiata and Quercus cerris) were employed for the intense cross-cutting tests carried out in two separate trials (July and December). Some filter samples were undergone to chemical analysis to determine the contents of metals. Two chainsaws, one electric powered by batteries and one endothermic, were employed in the tests. Results showed that the different woods and the two chainsaws produced similar quantities of wood dust, that was characterized by a major fraction of fine particles < 1 µm. Obtained values of inhalable wood dust were very variable in values (in July’s test, PM4 ranged from 2.9 to 52.5 mg m−3 and TSP from 3.7 to 42.6 mg m−3; in December PM4 ranged from 1.0 to 4.0 mg m−3 and TSP from 3.2 to 5.8 mg m−3). Values often exceeded the European legal threshold of concentration, and the operator should protect himself wearing a proper PPE (personal protective equipment). Moreover, attention should be paid to the exposure to wood dust and to heavy metal elements considering potential risks due to longer times of exposure that should be carefully evaluated. Among metals, nickel content was particularly elevated.