Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of wood dust on nasal mucociliary clearance time in wood industry workers. Moreover, the correlation between duration of exposure to wood dust and nasal mucociliary clearance time will be evaluated.
Methods: A total of 50 male subjects were included in the study. All of the subjects were non-smokers. Nasal mucociliary clearance time of 25 wood industry workers was measured with saccharine method and compared with the results of 25 age-matched control group. Also, the correlation between nasal mucociliary clearance time and duration of exposure to wood dust in woodworkers was evaluated.
Results: The mean mucociliary clearance time in control group and wood industry workers was 12.28 ± 1.98 and 16.72 ± 2.71, respectively. The mean mucociliary clearance time in wood industry workers was significantly longer than control group (p < 0.0001). Also,there was positive correlation between duration of exposure to wood dust and nasal mucociliary clearance time in wood industry workers (r = 0.879, p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: The clinicians must remember that mucociliary clearance time in wood industry workers is prolonged. So the wood industry workers must be followed up more closely for sinonasal infections and respiratory tract diseases.
Keywords: Nasal cancer; Nasal mucociliary clearance time; Sinonasal infection; Wood dust; Wood industry workers.