First surveys on chainsaw operators’ hard wood dust and exhaust gases exposure: a Tuscan project

Objectives In 2010 the Tuscany Region promoted a research project on the evaluation of the forest operators’ hard wood dust and exhausts gases exposure in chainsaw cutting operation and in chipping operation, using a standardized survey methodology. The primary aim of this project is to correlate the chainsaw working time with the dust polluting amounts measured in different forest sites and working operations (coppice clear cut, softwood thinnings or sanitary cut) and to highlight the operational aspects and the operator behaviours that may maximize the exposure to the polluting agents. Methods The mass concentration of respirable particles and total dust at the workplace was determined by the method of personal collectors (Button Sampler, Iom plus Xad, Radiello) connected to different air pumps. The surveys were focused on the collection of: the hard wood dusts, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the values of benzene, toluene, etilbenzene and xilene present in the exhaust gases. Results One of the most important result is the reduction of the polluting agents concentration measured by personal collectors using the special fuels (alkylate petrol) for chainsaws in comparison to the normal fuels usually adopted. Conclusion and Perspectives Concerning the hard wood dusts concentration analysis in processing fuelwood and in softwood thinnings different results were observed. In coppice clearcut or in softwood pruning concentrations were quite similar to the limit values of 5 mg/m³, allowed by the European Union. At the same time an high influence of the survey season (winter or summer), the operators’ working methods and the tree species was also highlighted.