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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
08:08
Fabrication and Design of Wood-Based High-Performance Composites
Published on: November 9, 2019
Esme Hadfield (1921-92) and the Wycombe woodworkers
O J H Whiteside1, R J Corbridge, J W R Capper
1ENT Department, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading RG5 1AN, UK. livvyw@googlemail.com
Journal of Medical Biography
|March 9, 2010
Summary
Otolaryngologist Esme Hadfield discovered a link between paranasal sinus adenocarcinoma and wood dust exposure in the furniture industry. Her work highlights occupational hazards in woodworking environments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Esme Hadfield's career at Wycombe General Hospital.
- The woodworking industry environment.
- Historical context of occupational exposures.
Discussion:
- Adenocarcinoma of the paranasal sinuses.
- Wood dust as an occupational carcinogen.
- The furniture industry's role in exposure.
Key Insights:
- Established a critical link between wood dust and paranasal sinus cancer.
- Pioneered understanding of occupational risks in the furniture sector.
- Highlighted the importance of environmental factors in sinonasal malignancies.
Outlook:
- Further research into sinonasal cancer causes.
- Preventive measures for occupational dust exposure.
- Long-term health surveillance for exposed workers.
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