IMPORTANT HEALTH INFO

 

BAD WOODS

HEALTH HAZARDS AND WOOD
Some of the potential health hazards associated with timber use

In Australia, all wood dust is classified as carcinogenic
(liable to cause cancer).
Please read the following carefully it may save you some unwanted health problems.

This list has been compiled to give woodworkers a little bit of an insight into the potential health hazards posed by some of the timbers they may use.

 

This list is not meant to discourage you from woodworking just as a guide
to help identify some of the problems you may be having with your health
or may possibly have in the future.

 

It is a wise investment to purchase a good respirator especially if you are a woodturner or do a lot of sanding. You may also need to look at putting a dust extractor into your workshop and even a small particle dust extractor which can eliminate particles as small as 1 micron in size (invisible to the naked eye)

If you know of wood you have had a health problem with, please use ContactUs to send details and I will add to the list when I get a chance. Keep safe – Neil.
A
abura Tropical Africa Nausea, eye irritation, giddiness
a-dead-finish Australia Wood splinter and thorns cause skin irritation, dust causes dermatitis
afara Central & West Africa Splinters cause skin inflammation
African boxwood South Africa Irritation to nose and throat, headache, asthma fainting, shortness of breath, erythema
African mahogany West Africa Skin irritation, dermatitis, nasal cancer
African walnut Africa Irritation to mucous membranes, nasal cancer, irritation of alimentary tract
afrormosia Tropical West Africa Dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma
agba Angola, Zaire, Nigeria Dermatitis
albizzia South East Asia, Pacific Australia Irritation to nose, eyes, alimentary tract, nausea, dermatitis
alder Europe, North America Dermatitis
alpine ash Australia Irritation to nose, eyes and throat, dermatitis
American mahogany Central America, northern South America, Mexico, plantations in Fiji Skin irritation, giddiness, vomiting, furunculosis
B
bibu Indian
Sub-Continent
Sap causes blistering of skin, eye irritation
black bean Australia Dermatitis, itchiness, irritation of mucous membranes
black cherry USA, Canada, Europe Wheezing, giddiness
blackwood Australia, plantations in South Africa Dermatitis, asthma, irritation to nose and throat
brazilwood Northern South America Headache, nausea, painful swelling of arms, visual disturbances
brigalow Australia Dermatitis
C
caIophyIIum S.E. Asia, Pacific, New Caledonia, Australia, New Guinea Dermatitis, kidney damage, irritation to nose and throat
caroba Central and South America, planted in most tropical areas Dermatitis
cocuswood Central America Dermatitis
cocobolo Central America, Mexico Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, nausea
coolibah Australia Bark and wood dust may cause skin irritation
crow’s ash Australia, New Guinea Dermatitis
D
dahoma Africa Dermatitis, coughing, sneezing, nose bleeding
difundu Africa Dermatitis
djohar South East Asia, India, Australia Skin discoloration, eye irritation, keratitis
Douglas fir (oregon) USA, Canada, plantations in New Zealand, Australia & Europe Dermatitis, nasal cancer, irritation to eyes and throat
E
East Indian satinuood India, Pakistan, Ceylon Dermatitis, headache, swelling of scrotum, irritation of mucous membranes
ebony Africa, Malagasy, Ceylon, South East Asia Skin inflammation, acute dermatitis, sneezing, conjunctivitis
European beech Europe Nasal cancer, dermatitis
European boxwood Southern Europe, Asia Minor Dermatitis, irritation to nose, eyes and throat
European elm Europe Dermatitis, irritation of mucous membranes, cancer
European walnut Europe, Asia Minor Dermatitis, nasal cancer
eyum Africa Irritation of nose and throat, dermatitis
F – G
gaboon Equatorial Africa Itchy skin, irritation to eyes and nose
greenheart Northern South America Headache,wheezing, shortness of breath, disturbance of vision, diarrhoea, erythema
grey box Australia Eczema, irritation of mucous membranes
guarea Tropical West Africa Dermatitis, asthma, nausea, disturbance of vision, headache
H – I
Indian rosewood South East Asia, India, New Guinea Dermatitis 
Ipe Northern South America Dermatitis, shortness of breath, headache, disturbance of vision
iroko Tropical West & East Africa Dermatitis, furunculosis, oedema of eyelids, respiratory difficulties, giddiness
ivorywood
(South American)
Tropical South America Dermatitis
J – K – L
jacareuba Central
and South America
Dermatitis, loss of appetite, kidney damage, fainting, insomnia
jarrah Australia Irritation to nose, throat and eyes
keruing South East Asia Dermatitis
kwila (merbau) Australia, New Guinea, Pacific Islands, South East Asia Dermatitis, rhinitis
lignum vitae West Indies, Central & northern South America Dermatitis
limba Tropical Africa Splinters may cause festering sores or skin irritation
lingue Africa Irritation to eyes, nose and throat
mansonia
Tropical West Africa
Dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, nose bleeding,
sneezing, giddiness, asthma
marking nut
Australia, India
Sap and wood dust may cause skin lesions, eye irritation, nose bleeding
massaranduba
Northern South America
Dermatitis
meranti
(red,white,yellow )
South East Asia
Dermatitis, Irritation to nose, throat and eyes
messmate
Australia, plantation in Africa,
Europe and South America
Dermatitis, asthma, sneezing,
milky mangrove
Australia, South East
Asia, Pacific
Sap may cause irritation to eyes, even temporary blindness, headache, burning of throat, blistering of skin
Miva mahogany
Australia Congestion of lungs, eye inflammation, irritation of mucous membranes, headache, nose bleed, loss of appetite
molompangady
Malagasy Dermatitis, sores
mountain ash
Australia, plantations in South America, Africa, Europe
Irritation to nose, throat and eyes, dermatitis
muhuhu
Africa
Dermatitis
mulga
Australia
Wood contains a virulent poisonous principle,
used for spear heads by aboriginals. Dust may cause irritation to mucous membranes, headache, vomiting
muninga
Africa
Bronchitis, asthma, dermatitis
myrtle beech
Australia
Irritation to mucous membranes
N
needlewood
India, South East Asia
Bark causes skin irritation
N.Z. white pine
New Zealand
Dermatitis, irritation to nose, throat
nkassa
Africa
Headache, giddiness, vomiting, disorders of bowels & stomach, irritation to nose & throat
nortbern silky oak
Australia
Green timber may cause dermatitis
O
oak (European and Japanese )
Europe, Japan, China
Nasal cancer, dermatitis, sneezing
obeche
West Africa
Asthma, sneezing, congestion of lungs
odoum
Africa
Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat
P
padauk
Afric a, New Guinea, S.E.
Asia, Andaman Islands
Asthma, dermatitis
palisandre wood
South America
Dermatitis
parinari
Central and northern South America, Africa, South East Asia, Pacific, New Guinea
Dermatitis
pau amarello
South America
Dermatitis
Phoenician juniper
Central and southern Europe, northern Africa, South East Russia
Nausea, headache, skin irritation
poison walnut
Australia
Bark very irritating to skin. Dust may cause
breathing problems, vomiting, giddiness, dermatitis
poplar
Nth America, Europe, east Asia
Asthma, dermatitis, bronchitis
Port Oxford cedar
U S A
Dermatitis
Q – R
ramin
S E Asia, New Guinea, Pacific
Sharp fibres cause skin irritation & infection
red cedar
Australia, South East Asia, New Guinea, India, plantations in Central America
Violent headache, giddiness, stomach cramps,
asthma, bronchitis, dermatitis, irritation of mucous
membranes
red lancewood
Northern South America
Dermatitis
red peroba
South America
Nausea, sweating, asthma, cramps, drowsiness, fainting, irritation of mucous membranes, dermatitis
red siris
Australia
Dermatitis, nose bleed, conjunctivitis, giddiness
redwood
North America
Dermatitis, asthma
rengas
South East Asia, New Guinea, Malagasy
Bark, sap and wood dust irritating to skin, causing dermatitis, blistering, chronic ulcers
rimu
New Zealand
Irritation to nose, eyes
rose butternut
Australia
Dermatitis, conjunctivitis
rosewood
South East Asia, New Guinea
Dermatitis, asthma
S
saffron-heart
Australia, New Guinea
Splinters cause skin Infection. Dust causes
dermatitis, congestion of lungs
sapale
Africa
Skin irritation, sneezing
satine
South America
Excessive salivation, feeling of thirst, nausea
South American cedar
Central & South America, Mexico
Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat, nasal cancer, asthma
southern silky oak
Australia, New Caledonia
Sap may cause blistering of skin, inflammation of eyelids. Dust may cause dermatitis
spotted gum
Australia, plantations in South America, Africa & Europe
Dermatitis
spruce
Nth. America, Japan, Europe
Irritation to nose and throat
stinging tree
Australia, Asia
Stinging hairs on leaves and bark have intensely
irritating effect on skin, may cause paralysis, breathing problems, severe pain
sweetgum
Southern North America
Dermatitis
sumac
Asia, Nth & Sth America, Europe
Bark causes blisters, dust may cause dermatitis
T
talh
Northern Africa
Dermatitis, coughing, irritation to mucous
membranes
taun
South East Asia, New Guinea
Dermatitis, rhinitis
teak
South and South East Asia, plantations in most tropics
Dermatitis, conjunctivitis, over sensitivity to light,
swelling of scrotum, irritation to throat& nose, nausea
thorny yellowwood
Australia
Lesions made by thorns & splinters take a long
time to heal. Dust causes dermatitis, cramp, eye & throat irritation, disturbance of vision
U – V – W
white cedar
Eastern North America
Dermatitis
white baltic
Europe
Asthma, skin irritation
white cypress pine
Australia
Dermatitis, swelling of eyelids, asthma, irritation of nose and throat, nasal cancer, furunculosis
white handlewood Australia
Sap very irritant to eye, dust causes dermatitis, abdominal pains, nausea
white peroba
South America
Dermatitis, asthma
X – Y – Z
yang
S.E. Asia
Dermatitis, inflammation of mucous membranes, furunculosis, inflammation caused by splinters
yellow gum
Australia
Irritation to nose and throat
yew
Europe, Asia Minor
Dermatitis, headache, congestion of lungs, nausea, fainting, irritation of alimentary tract, visual disturbances

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This site last modified: 17th June 2023

 

 

 

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