Dermal exposure to terpenic resin acids in Swedish carpentry workshops and sawmills

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate dermal exposure to the resin acids abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid and 7-oxodehydroabietic acid during collecting in sawmills and during sawing in carpentry workshops, respectively. Methods: Sampling was performed by fastening patches at 12 different areas on a sampling overall, one patch on the front of a cap, one patch on the chest inside the clothing and one patch on the inner lower right leg. Exposure of the hands was assessed by fastening patches on cotton gloves representing the dorsal sides and the palms of the left and right hands. Sampling was performed on 30 different occasions in the sawmills and in the carpentry workshops with mean sampling times of 120 and 59 min, respectively. The acids were solvent desorbed from the patches. Identification and quantification of the resin acids was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: The geometric means (GMs) of the potential body exposures to abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid and 7-oxodehydroabietic acid during sawing and collecting of wood from pine and spruce were 3346 and 17 247 mug/h, respectively. The GM of the potential exposure on the hands was 3020 mug/h in the carpentry workshops and 4365 mug/h in the sawmills. Resin acids were detected on the inner chest and inner lower front right leg, respectively. Conclusions: There is a potential dermal exposure to terpenic resin acids in carpentry workshops as well as in sawmills. The hands have the highest exposure during sawing as well as during collecting. There is a spatial distribution of contaminants, with the outer chest, arms and legs showing the highest exposures. Resin acids also contaminated the inner chest and inner lower leg. It is necessary to take action to reduce dermal exposure to these allergenic substances.