Various occupational problems, including asthma, have been reported to result from the inhalation of several types of wood dust. This report describes respiratory tract symptoms in furniture workers exposed to abura wood dust. Symptoms of chest tightness, cough, wheeze and breathlessness occurred towards the end of the working day. There was also a significant fall in lung function. Effects were reversible within a few hours of leaving the factory. An inhaled aerosol of an aqueous extract of the dust caused a fall in sGaw of guinea pigs; the response was antagonized by prior administration of an antihistamine. The dust extract also released histamine from pig and human lung in vitro. It is possible that the observed symptoms are related to this pharmacological activity of the dust.