Epidemiological study of the wood industry in Belgium

After an extensive survey of the wood industry in Belgium, the authors have studied in detail a wood machining factory in which 800 of the 1,300 workers were in contact with dust from tropical timbers. In Belgium only 2% of timber factories employ more than 100 workers and 62.5% employ less than 10 workers. At this particular factory, over a period of 2 years, the authors have found 50 patients with cutaneous or mucosal symptoms. About 3% of the workers suffer from dermatitis or mucosal signs. No real asthma was observed. It is concluded that there is more timber dermatitis than is officially recognized in Belgium.