> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Wood dust exposure may boost lung cancer risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/wood_dust_exposure_may_boost_lung_cancer_risk_1311101231/
- Published: 2010-11-13T13:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:11:38.000Z
- Description: Fred Hutchinson researchers compared 440 lung cancer cases with 845 matched controls and found sawmill workers were 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer. They reported no raised risk from other occupations, woodworking as a hobby, or estimated cumulative wood dust exposure.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Environment, Health News, Lung Cancer, #vivvo-import

Wood dust is a known human carcinogen. A new study has now found that exposure to sawdust or wood dust in a sawmill may drastically increase the risk for a person to acquire lung cancer.

The study led by Bhatti P and colleagues from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington compared 440 cases of lung cancer and 845 age-matched controls and found high exposure to wood dust in a sawmill was associated with elevated risk of lung cancer.

The researchers said wood dust has already been associated with sinonasal cancer. The National Toxicology Program recognizes wood dust as a human carcinogen.

Bhatti et al. found those who worked in a sawmill were 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer. However, they said they found "no evidence of increased risk associated with other occupations, working with wood as a hobby or with estimated cumulative exposure to wood dust."

The study was published in Nov 11,2010 issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

David Liu