Occupational wood dust exposure and lung function impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Occupational wood dust exposure has been implicated in reduced lung function. Owing to varied estimates from studies, a systematic review was done to evaluate the association between occupational wood dust exposure and decline in lung function. Methods This systematic review has been conducted and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were screened. Data were extracted from eligible studies and were considered for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Results The qualitative synthesis included 55 studies. Eligible studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, and high heterogeneity was noted between studies with I2>95%. Workers exposed to wood dust showed significant reduction in lung function measures, including forced expiratory volume 1 percentage predicted (pooled mean difference [MD] -8.57; 95% CI -12.07 to -5.08; 16 studies), forced vital capacity (FVC) percentage predicted (pooled MD-7.43; 95% CI -11.35 to -3.51; 14 studies), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) percentage predicted (pooled MD -13.43; 95% CI -25.14 to -1.72; 9 studies). Funnel plot indicated greater chances for publication bias among studies included in the meta-analysis. Sawmill workers were likely to have obstructive lung function patterns compared to furniture industry workers, who present with a restrictive pattern. Conclusion Evidence from this review suggests that wood dust-exposed workers have a reduced FEV1, FVC, and PEFR, indicating obstructive and restrictive patterns. There is a need for workplace dust control measures and personal protective equipment to prevent lung function impairment among wood industry workers.