Towards Understanding the Health Aspects of the Processing of Lignocellulosic Fillers

Abstract

Health and safety issues should be addressed during the development and investigation of industrial processes. In order to develop a sustainable process and fully evaluate its benefits and drawbacks for its optimization, it is crucial to determine its impact on the surrounding environment. This study aimed to assess the emission of volatile organic compounds during the modification of lignocellulosic fillers with passive dosimetry. Two types of processes were investigated: diisocyanate treatment of commercial lignocellulosic fillers in a batch mixer and thermo-mechanical treatment of brewers’ spent grain using a twin-screw extruder. The presence of multiple terpenes and terpenoids was detected during the processing of fillers. The main compounds detected during modification were camphene, 3-carene, limonene, α-pinene, and cymenes. These compounds can cause irritation and allergic reactions, according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, as well as NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. Some of them are also characterized by relatively low values of flash points, even below 40 °C. Therefore, their emissions during the modification of cellulose materials should be carefully monitored, and proper precautions need to be taken.

Granulometric Characterization of Wood Dust Emission from CNC Machining of Natural Wood and Medium Density Fiberboard

“…Occupational exposure to wood dust can cause significant non-reversible human health problems, including skin, eye, and nose irritation [20]; asthma [21]; skin disorders (dermatitis) [22]; and adverse respiratory system effects, including decreased lung capacity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and allergic reactions [23,24], as well as toxic effects specific to some wood species. Markedly, wood dust has been classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [25].…”

Fine Dust Creation during Hardwood Machine Sanding

“…Despite equipping sanding stations with dust exhaust systems, air pollution by fine dust poses a serious health hazard for both position operators and other employees [17][18][19][20][21]. Prolonged exposure to air polluted with wood dust impairs the respiratory system and causes other related diseases such as allergies, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, skin problems (dermatitis), eye and nose irritation, and toxic effects, specific for particular wood species [22][23][24]. Markedly, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified wood dust into substances with carcinogenic effects for humans (Group 1) (IARC 2012), and this has enhanced the scientific interest on wood dust [25][26][27][28][29].…”