Dermal exposure to monoterpenes during wood work

Abstract

The dermal exposure to the suspected allergenic monoterpenes α-pinene, β-pinene and Δ³-carene was assessed with a patch sampling technique. The patch used was made of activated charcoal sandwiched between two layers of cotton cloth. Patches were fastened at 12 different spots on a sampling overall and at the front of a cap to estimate the potential exposure of the body. Fastening two patches on a cotton glove, one patch representing the dorsal side and one patch representing the palm of the hand respectively, assessed the exposure on the hands. Sampling was carried out during collecting of pine and spruce boards in sawmills and during sawing of pine wood pieces in joinery shops respectively. The potential dermal exposure of the total body was 29.0–1 890 mg h⁻¹ with a geometric mean (GM) of 238 mg h⁻¹ during sawing. During collecting the GM was estimated to 100 mg h⁻¹ with a range of 12.2–959 mg h⁻¹. The hands had a mean exposure of 9.24 mg h⁻¹ during sawing and 3.25 mg h⁻¹ during collecting respectively. The good correlation between the mass of contamination on the individual body parts and the potential body exposure indicates that sampling can be performed on one body part to give a good estimation of the potential body exposure. Monoterpenes were detected at patches fastened underneath the protective clothing indicating a contamination of the skin of the worker. The patch used may overestimate the dermal exposure.