<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Industry Wood Dust Study Completed</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=contentBodyText><!--mgt_rpt/storypara.htm-->

"A major study of the effects of wood dust on mill employee respiratory health has found "no statistically significant adverse effects from wood dust at the facilities participating in the study," according to Sharon Kneiss, vice president of regulatory affairs at the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). The six-year study, which followed more than 1,100 employees from 10 wood products industry plants around the country, was commissioned by AF&PA and 18 other wood products trade associations, including APA. The study was conducted by the Tulane University Medical Center."
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A Google search on "Tulane Wood Dust Study" will give many results referencing this study. This quote listed above is from the American Plywood Association site.

Here's another, from Lisa Harbatkin of Wood Digest - "Solid wood dust is not a respiratory danger to wood workers at levels measured in plants participating in the recently completed Respiratory Health Study of the Wood Processing Industry."

Is it just me, or does this study (or at least the general conclusions drawn from it) seem to contradict everything we've (as a group) always understood about the dangers of wood dust?

Inquiring minds want to know.....

Dustfully yours,


Matt