Wood Toxicity Table "This list has been compiled to give woodworkers a little bit of an insight into the potential health hazards posed by some of the woods we use. You should always check on the properties of each new wood before you work with it. This list is not meant to discourage you from woodworking. It is instead a guide to help identify some of the problems you may have with your health when working with the various woods. This information summarizes a variety of sources some of which may be inaccurate or incomplete. Additionally, much is still being discovered about the different woods. For instance, a large number of woods that were considered irritants twenty years ago are now classed also as sensitizers.Additionally, this table does not address the potential damages from the other chemicals that are frequently associated from woods and wood products such as glues, plastics, insecticides, herbicides, etc. which are also known to be harmful to our health. " ID Type Reaction Affected Areas Potency Source Incidence 1 Abura/bahia vomiting Dust Rare 2 Afromosia Irritant "Eye, skin, respiratory, splinters go septic, nervous system effects" + Dust Rare 3 Afzelia/doussie Irritant "dermatitis, sneezing" 4 Agba/tola Irritant skin irritation 5 Alder Irritant "Eye, skin, respiratory, dermatitis, rhinitis, bronchial effects" + Dust Common 6 Andiroba/crabwood Irritant "sneezing, eye irritation" 7 Angelico Irritant "Eye, skin, Respiratory" ++ Dust Rare 8 Arborvitae Irritant Respiratory + Dust Rare 9 " Ash, Alpine (Eucalyptus delegatensis)" "Irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis" 10 "Ash, Mountain (Eucalyptus regnans)" Irritant "Respiratory, decrease in lung function, Irritation to nose, eyes & throat, headaches, vomiting" + Dust Common 11 Avodire Irritant "dermatitis, nose bleeds" Dust 12 Ayan/movingui Irritant dermatitis 13 Balsam Fir Sensitizer "Eyes, skin" + "Leaves, bark" Common 14 Basralocus/angelique unspecific effects 15 "Beech, European (Fagus sylvatica)" "Sensitizer, nausea, nasopharyngeal cancer" " Eyes, skin, respiratory, dermatitis, decrease in lung function, eye irritation, nasal cancer" ++ "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" Common 16 Birch "Sensitizer, nausea" "Respiratory, dermatitis on sawing lumber" ++ "Wood, dust" Common 17 Black Locust "Irritant, nausea" "Eyes, skin" +++ "Leaves, bark" Common 18 Blackbean (Castanospermum australe) Irritant "Irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis" 19 Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) Sensitizer "Dermatitis, asthma, irritation of nose & throat" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 20 Blackwood (Surinam) sensitizer "eyes, skin" +++ "dust, wood" common 21 "Boxwood, European (Buxus sempervirens)" Sensitizer "Eye, nose, skin, dermatitis, respiratory, & throat" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 22 Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) Irritation to nose & throat ++ "Dust, wood" Common 23 Bubinga Irritant "dermatitis, skin lesions possible" 24 Cashew Sensitizer "Eyes, skin" ++ "Dust, wood" Rare 25 Cedar (American) "Irritant, sensitizer" allergic contact dermatitis ++ "Wood, dust" Common 26 Cedar (Western Red) "Irritant, sensitizer" "asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, mucous membrane irritation, central nervous system effects" ++ "Wood, dust" Common 27 Cedar of Lebanon "Irritant, sensitizer" "respiratory disorders, rhinitis" ++ "Wood, dust" Common 28 "Cedar, South American (Cedrela spp.)" "Irritant, sensitizer" "Dermatitis, asthma, nasal cancer, irritation to nose & throat. Sap may cause blistering of skin and inflammation of eyelids" ++ "Wood, dust" Common 29 "Cedar, White (Melia azedarach)" "Irritant, sensitizer" Dermatitis ++ "Wood, dust" Common 30 Chechem "Irritant, sensitizer" "Eyes, skin, respiratory" +++ "Dust, wood" Unknown 31 Chestnut dermatitis (possibly from bark lichens) 32 Cocobolo "Irritant, sensitizer" "Eyes, skin, respiratory" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 33 Coolibah (Eucalyptus microtheca) Irritant Dermatitis 34 Crows Ash (Flindersia Australia) Irritant Dermatitis 35 "Cypress, Bald" Sensitizer Respiratory + Dust Rare 36 "Cypress Pine, White (Callitris glauca)" Sensitizer "Dermatitis, swelling eyelids, asthma, irritation of nose & throat, nasal cancer, furuncilosis" + Dust Rare 37 Dahoma Irritant "Eyes, skin" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 38 Ebony (Diospyros spp.) "Irritant, sensitizer" "Irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis, mucous membrane irritation, possibly a skin sensitizer" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 39 "Elm, European (Ulmus spp.)" Irritant "Eyes, skin" + Dust Rare 40 "Fir, Douglas" "dermatitis, splinters go septic, rhinitis, bronchial effects" 41 "Fir, Douglas (Oregon - Pseudotsuga menziesii)" "Irritant, nasopharyngeal cancer" "Dermatitis, nasal cancer, irritation to eyes & throat" + Dust Rare 42 Freijo/cordia "Irritant, sensitizer" "Eyes, skin" 43 Gaboon/okoume Irritant "asthma, cough, eye irritation, dermal effects (hands, eyelids)" 44 Gedu nohor/edinam Irritant dermatitis + Dust Rare 45 Goncalo aves Sensitizer "Eyes, skin" ++ "Dust, wood" Rare 46 Greenheart Sensitizer "Eyes, skin, splinters go septic, cardiac and intestinal disorders, severe throat irritation" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 47 Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Irritant "Eczema, irritation to nose & throat" 48 Guarea Sensitizer "Eyes, skin, and mucous membrane irritation" +++ Dust Rare 49 Gum (southern blue) dermatitis 50 Hemlock (western) Nasopharyngeal cancer Respiratory ++ Dust Rare 51 Idigbo possible irritant 52 Ipe Irritant "Eyes, skin" + Dust Rare 53 Iroko "Irritant, sensitizer, pneumonia" "Eyes, skin, respiratory, bronchial effects, rhinitis" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 54 Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) Irritation to nose & throat 55 Katon Irritant "Eyes, skin, respiratory" + Dust Rare 56 Kingwood Irritant "Eyes, skin" + "Dust, wood" Common 57 Larch Irritant "nettle rash, dermatitis (possibly from bark lichens)" 58 Lauan/Meranti Irritant skin irritation 59 Limba Irritant "splinters go septic, nettle rash, nose and gum bleeding, decrease in lung function" 60 Mahogany Irritant "dermatitis, respiratory disorders, mucous membrane irritation" 61 Mahogany (Swietenia) "sensitizer, pneumoitis alveolotis" "skin, respiratory" + dust unknown 62 Mahogany African "Irritant, sensitizer" "Skin, respiratory" +++ Dust Common 63 Mahogany American Sensitizer "Eyes, skin, respiratory" + Dust Common 64 Makore Irritant "Eyes, skin, dermatitis, mucous membrane and respiratory tract irritation, central nervous system and blood effects" + Dust Rare 65 Mansonia "Irritant, sensitizer, nausea, malaise" "Eyes, skin, splinters go septic, skin sensitization, irritation, respiratory disorders, nose bleeds, headache, cardiac disorders" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 66 Manzinilla Irritant Respiratory ++ "Dust, wood" Common 67 Maple "Sensitizer, pneumonia" decrease in lung function +++ Dust Common 68 Maple (Spalted - C. Corticale mold) "Sensitizer, pneumonia" Respiratory +++ Dust Common 69 Meranti (Shorea spp.) Irritant "Irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis" 70 Meranti/lauan Irritant skin irritation 71 Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) Irritant "Asthma, irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis" 72 Mimosa "Direct toxin, irritant, nausea" Respiratory ++++ "Leaves, bark" Common 73 Miva Mahogany (Dysoxylum muelleri) Irritant "Congested lungs, irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis, headache, nose bleeding & loss of appetite" 74 Mulga (Acacia aneura) 75 Myrtle Sensitizer Respiratory +++ "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" Common 76 Oak "Sensitizer, nasopharyngeal cancer" "Eyes, skin, asthma, sneezing, eye irritation" ++ "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" "Rare, unknown" 77 Obeche "Irritant, sensitizer" "Eyes, skin and respiratory tract irritation, nettle rash, dermatitis, feverish, sneezing, wheezing" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 78 Oleander "Direct toxin, malaise, nausea" "Cardiac, respiratory" ++++ "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" Common 79 Olivewood "Irritant, sensitizer" "Eyes, skin, respiratory" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 80 Opepe Sensitizer "Respiratory, dermatitis, mucous membrane irritation, central nervous system effects e.g. giddiness, visual effects; nose bleeds and blood spitting" + Dust Rare 81 Orangewood Irritant Respiratory + "Dust, wood" Rare 82 Padauk "Sensitizer, nausea, malaise" "Species-dependant: itching, eye, skin & respiratory irritation, vomiting, swelling (e.g. eyelids)" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 83 Pau Ferro Sensitizer "Eyes, skin" + "Dust, wood" Rare 84 Peroba Irritant "skin and mucous membrane irritation; systemic effects e.g. headache, nausea, stomach cramp, weakness, blisters" 85 Peroba Rosa "irritant, nausea, malaise" Respiratory ++ "dust, wood" Unknown 86 Peroba White "Irritant, nausea" Respiratory ++ "Dust, wood" Common 87 Pine Irritant Skin irritation (may cause photosensitization); decrease in lung function ++ "Dust, wood" Common 88 Poplar Irritant "sneezing, eye irritation, may cause blisters" 89 Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) Irritant "Dermatitis, violent ear ache, giddiness, stomach cramps, bronchitis, irritation of mucous membranes" 90 Purpleheart Nausea Respiratory ++ "Dust, wood" Common 91 Quebracho "Irritant, malaise, nasopharyngeal cancer, nausea" Respiratory "++, ?" "Dust, leaves, bark" "Common, unknown" 92 Ramin Irritant "Eyes, skin, dermatitis (possibly from bark)" ++ "Dust, wood" Rare 93 Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) "Sensitizer, nasopharyngeal cancer, , pneumoitis alveolotis" "Skin, eyes, respiratory, dermatitis & asthma" +++ Dust "Rare, unknown" 94 Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) Irritant Irritation to eyes & nose 95 Rosewoods "Irritant, sensitizer, irritant" "Skin, eyes, respiratory, dermatitis. Effects may arise from handling wood" ++++ "Dust, wood" Common 96 Sapele Irritant skin irritation 97 Sassafras "Direct toxin, sensitizer, nasopharyngeal cancer, nausea" Respiratory "+, ?" "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" "Rare, unknown" 98 Satinwood Irritant "Skin, eyes, respiratory" +++ "Dust, wood" Common 99 Sequoia "Irritant, nasopharyngeal cancer" Respiratory + Dust Rare 100 Snakewood Irritant Respiratory ++ "Dust, wood" Rare 101 Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata) Irritant Dermatitis 102 Spruce Sensitizer "Respiratory, respiratory disorders, possible photosensitization" + "Dust, wood" Rare 103 Stave Wood Irritant Respiratory + "Dust, wood" Rare 104 Sucupira Irritant Respiratory + "Dust, wood" Rare 105 Teak "Sensitizer, pneumoitis alveolotis" "Skin, eyes, respiratory, dermatitis (potent, even after seasoning) nettle rash" +++ Dust Common 106 Teak (Tectona grandis) Irritant "Dermatitis, conjunctivitis, oversensitivity to light, swelling of the scrotum, irritation to nose & throat, nausea" 107 Utile Irritant skin irritation 108 "Walnut, Black" Sensitizer "Skin, eyes, sneezing, rhinitis, dermatitis from nut shells and roots" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 109 "Walnut, European (Juglans regia)" Sensitizer "Nasal cancer, irritation to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 110 Wenge Sensitizer "Skin, eyes, respiratory, splinters go septic; dermatitis, central nervous system effects e.g. giddiness, drowsiness, visual disturbance, abdominal cramps" ++ "Dust, wood" Common 111 Western Red Cedar (Thuga plicata) "Sensitizer, nasopharyngeal cancer" "Asthma, dermatitis, nasal cancer, nausea, rhinitis, nose bleeding, giddiness, stomach pain" +++ "Dust, leaves, bark" Common 112 White Baltic (Picea abies) Irritant "Asthma, skin irritation" 113 Whitewood Irritant dermatitis 114 Willow Sensitizer Respiratory + "Dust, wood, leaves, bark" Rare 115 Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) Irritant Irritation of nose & throat 116 Yew "Direct toxin, irritant, nausea, malaise, nasopharyngeal cancer" "Skin, eyes, cardiac, respiratory, dermatitis, systemic effects e.g. headache, blood pressure drop, cardiac effects" "++,++++" "Dust, wood" Common 117 Zebrawood Sensitizer "Skin, eyes" ++ "Dust, wood" Rare Notes: 1 Woods listed in red are known to be direct toxins meaning poisonous so should be worked with considerable care. 2 In Australia all wood dust is now classified as carcinogenic (liable to cause cancer) 3 "I strongly recommend always wearing a good dual cartridge NIOSH approved respirator and work outside whenever working with woods known to be toxic, an irritant, or a sensitizer. I also recommend you always vent your dust collector or cyclone outside when working with the more dangerous woods. Additionally, realize that the dust you make will take years to break down and dissipate, so if you must work inside, then you should always continue to wear your mask until you have time to clean your shop thoroughly after working with the more dangerous woods. If you have to filter, then my respiratory physician recommends you only use filters which are certified at 99% plus for filtering all particles sized down to at least 0.5-microns when clean and new. Those with known existing health problems should only use filters certified at 99.7% effective on filtering off particles sized down to 0.3-microns again when clean and new (this is the HEPA standard)." 4 "Disclaimer Please use this information at your own risk. This table is by no means a comprehensive list. I also know some fields are incomplete and new research may prove other fields wrong. If you know of additional woods and their hazards, or have suggested changes for this table please email me." References: 1 UK Heath & Safety Executive - Toxic woods Information Sheet - Woodworking Sheet No 30 http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis30.pdf 2 "Woods Toxic to Man_, author unknown" 3 "Woods, B., Calnan, C.D., ""Toxic Woods."" _Br. Journal of Dermatology_ 1976" 4 ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety_ 1983 5 "Lame, K., McAnn, M., _AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants_, AMA 1985" 6 "Poisondex_, Micromedix Inc. 1990" 7 HEALTH HAZARDS & WOOD (Longest List) - table compiled by U-Beaut Neil Ellis http://www.ubeaut.com.au/badwood.htm 8 "Robert Woodcock, RN, BSN, CEN" 9 Minnesota Wood Turners http://mnwoodturners.com/New_Member_Docs/Toxic_Woods_Chart.html 10 "City of Tucson, AZ Health and Safety in the Arts" 11 "American Woodturner, June 1990"