Abstract
In this paper, biomedical literature assessing the risks of nasal cancer and other wood dust exposure related symptoms and diseases in the developing world were reviewed in detail and contrasted with experiences in the developed world. Pollutants arising from industrial processes, including wood processing plants are amongst the leading causes of morbidity and premature deaths in exposed individuals. Industrial and artisanal wood processes are associated with emissions of varied sizes of wood dust particles, toxic chemicals and biological agents including fungi and endotoxins. To identify studies that assessed the risk of nasal cancer and decreased lung functions in wood industry workers; systematic literature reviews were conducted with scholarly search engines including PubMed, and Scopus. A total of 100 studies published after 1999 were scoped and identified in line with the objectives of the present review. The strongest associations between wood dust exposure and ill-health in developing world are: respiratory symptoms, (100%, n= 33) and an increased risk of nasal cancer (17%, n= 14). While, only 8% of the studies in developed world have associated wood dust exposure with nasal cancer, there is a great debate regarding the validity of such studies as their findings are limited to one sector of wood industries, sawmilling and lack basis of true toxicological studies. To confirm the aetiology of nasal cancer in wood industries, future studies should incorporate dose response relationship and potential implications of fine and ultrafine wood particles as well as endotoxins. This could aid to develop sustainable strategies for interventions and reduction of risk of exposure.