Risks of Carcinogenic Pollution in Wood Industry within European Regulations

Many materials used in wood industry are considered to have carcinogenic or mutagenic effects, which is a health risk for workers in production. Carcinogenic chemical compounds, apart from causing cancer, also pose a great risk for human health in other terms like respiratory issues, skin irritation, allergic reactions, congenital abnormalities in women, visual impairments, immune system and neurological disorders, hormonal imbalances, etc. Carcinogenic pollution in the wood industry is associated with activities related to the emission of wood dust, production of panel materials, drying and steaming of wood, sharpening tools, the activities of handling glues, paints, varnishes, coatings, wood preservatives, exposure to fossil and biofuel exhaust gases, and many others. The purpose of this paper was to present the carcinogenic substances to which workers in the wood industry are professionally exposed, to present previous research and currently valid regulations and protection measures in the EU. By reviewing the sources, it can be concluded that, although legislation often requires clearly defined etiological factors, scientists agree that the understanding of the relationship between occupational exposures and cancer is not yet complete and that occupational carcinogenic factors are considered occupationalexposures if a significant number of workers were exposed to significant levels.