About Us Contact Us Products Blog Video Blog  RSS Feeder
Newsletters Tips & Techniques Featured Woodworker Just for Kids Tool Reviews Resources
Visit our online Gift store on CafePress!

Newsletter Signup

First Name:
Primary Email:

Support This Site

Support
Woodworkers
Resource

If you find our website and videos helpful, please click the button above to make a donation to help offset our costs.

 

November 19, 2007

Adverse Effect of Wood and Wood Dust

Many woodworkers are completely unaware of the hazardous nature of some of the woods we work with day in and day out.  By hazardous I mean the toxins, irritants and sensitizers found in some woods.  I have asthma, so I try to be extra careful around certain kinds of woods. But even with certain cautions in place, I still have asthma attacks occasionally in the shop.  Because of this I decided to dig a little deeper into why some woods are worse than others for causing reactions.  Don't think it's just asthmatics that have to be concerned. Wood toxins,irritants, and sensitizers can effect all of us.

Most woodworkers have had some kind of reaction to wood if they've been at it a while.  For some, it may be something simple like hay fever which we may not get so concerned about, but don't take this too lightly.  There is a growing body of evdence linking wood dust to nasal cancer. 

Some people's adverse effects to certain kinds of woods may be much more severe.  Some reactions can cause pneumonia, fibrosis (scarring of the lungs), nausea, dizziness, irregular heartbeats, and some cardiac
problems. 

The problem with many of these reactions is you never know when it might happen. Reactions can occur from the first time you're exposed, or it may happen after being exposed several times.  The important thing is to be prepared.

Dust collection is sometimes put down on our list of things to add to the shop. Cost being the primary reason.  However, the first line of defense from having an adverse reaction to wood is to reduce the chances of exposure. Using a dust collector at the source where wood dust can enter the air is key.

Wood dust not only can cause a reaction by inhaling it from the air, it can also cause a reaction from sawdust settling on the skin.  Certain species of hardwoods, including exotics, contain sensitizers.  These sensitizers can cause eye inflamation, hay fever, asthma attacks, skin reactions, coughing, and respiratort diseases.

The list of woods below that can cause reactions is not complete.  Any wood species has the potential to cause some type of reaction, especially if mold and mildew is present.


 

WoodReaction 1)Site 1)PotencySource 1)Incidence 1)
Bald CypressSR+DR
Balsam FirSE, S+LBC
BeechS, CE, S, R++LB, DC
BirchSR++W, DC
Black LocustI, NE, S+++LBC
BlackwoodSE, S++W, DC
BoxwoodSE, S++W, DC
CashewSE,S+W,D R
CocoboloI,SE,S,R+++W,DC
DahomaIE,S++W,DC
EbonyI,SE,S++W,DC
ElmIE,S+DR
Goncalo AlvesSE,S++W,DR
GreenheartSE,S+++W,DC
HemlockCR?DU
IrokoI,S,PE,S,R+++W,DC
MahoganyS,PS,R+DU
MansoniaI,SE,S+++W,DC
Mansonia N +D
Maple (Spalted)S,PR+++ DC
MimosaN ?LBU
MyrtleSR++LB,D C
OakSE,S++LB,DR
OakC ?DU
Obeche I,SE,S,R+++W,DC
OleanderDTN,C++++D,W,LBC
OlivewoodI,SE,S,R+++W,DC
Opepe SR +DR
Padauk SE,S,R+W,D R
Pau FerroSE,S+W,D R
Peroba RosaIR,N++W,DU
Purpleheart N ++W,DC
QuebrachoIR,N++LB,DC
QuebrachoC ?DU
RedwoodS,P E,S,R++DR
RedwoodC ?D U
RosewoodsI,SE,S,R++++W,DU
SatinwoodIE,S,R+++W,DC
SassafrasSR+DC
SassafrasDTN+D,W,LBR
SassafrasC ?DU
SequoiaIR +DR
SnakewoodIR++W,DR
Spruce SR+W,DR
Walnut, Black SE,S++W,DC
Wenge SE,S,R +W,DC
Willow SR,N+D,W,LBU
West. Red CedarSR+++D,LBC
Teak S, PE,S,R++DC
Yew IE,S++DC
Yew DT N,C ++++W,D C
ZebrawoodSE,S++W,D 

1)
Reaction:Site:Source:Incidence:
I - irritantS - skinD - dustR - rare
S - sensitizer E - eyesLB - leaves,bark C - common
C - nasopharyngeal cancerR - respiratoryW - wood U - uncommon
P - pheumonitis, alveolitisC - cardiac 
DT - direct toxin
N - nausea, malaise


Reference:
1. Woods Toxic to Man, author unknown
2. Woods, B., Calnan, C.D., "Toxic Woods." Br. Journal of Dermatology 1976
3. ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 1983
4. Lame, K., McAnn, M., AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, AMA 1985
5. Poisondex, Micromedix Inc. 1990

 



Plywood and other man-made materials should be handled with care as well.  Some of these still contain
chemicals that are known to cause problems.  Chemicals such as urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde resin glues,and preservatives like CCA (chromate/copper/arsenate), creosote,zinc, copper napthenate, should be avoided if possible. Many manufactures have come out with alternatives to these chemicals due to bands being enacted in some states.

Am I trying to scare you into hanging up your shop apron? Absolutely NOT!  Do I still use woods listed in the
table above?  Yes, and I'll continue to do so but with as much caution and protection as possible.  There are
some woods that I just have to avoid due to my asthma, but that's ok. My health is much more important to me, as it should be to you.  Practice safety and caution when it comes to wood and wood dust: Use proper dust collection at the source before wood becomes airborne, wear a proper fitting dust mask or respirator that has been approved by the National Institute For Health, and finally wear clothing that covers the skin so wood dust can't settle on it.  Hey, and one last tip that I heard from your mom, wash your hands after handling wood.

Other References to check out:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wooddust/

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2002/10thrc.cfm

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2000/rocrslt.cfm

http://www.ubeaut.com.au/badwood.htm (Another list of toxic wood)

 

-Craig Stevens

(c) Woodworkers Resource 

 

Comments (14)

Hello! Good article and very Informative blog, I russian webmaster, my name Pol, and i have many websites.. If you want to sell your blog or exchange links, write in my email.
Thanks...

Ted:

Reviewing your chart, I did not see pine, one of the more common woods used by woodworkers. How harmful is pine dust in the overall scheme of things?

John Gray:

The chart lists 2 "OAKS". One red, one white, how does that go?

(WR) Craig Stevens:

Ted,

The dust itself is as harmful as any wood dust to the lungs. However, pine is not a wood that is very common to cause allergic reactions. This doesn't mean that it can't happen, just for most folks, it's unlikely.

There is one thing to keep in mind though and that's the fact that many of the woods listed in the article including pine can contain spalting. Spalting is caused by a fungus that grows in the wood. This happens as a piece of wood starts to decay.

Most woods don't bother me unless it has spalting in it. Then my asthma can really bother me if I don't wear a respirator. Even if you don't have asthma, I would strongly advise anyone to wear a respirator when working with spalted woods.

Hopes this helps.

Kind regards,

Craig Stevens

(WR) Craig Stevens:

John,

The chart lists all "Oaks" together but separates them into two different "Reactions". One for being a Sensitizer and one for possibly causing Nasopharyngeal Cancer. That's why one of the oaks has a reaction listed as (S) and the other has a (C). This difference in reactions causes the other columns to be different as well, this is why they couldn't combine the two "oaks".

The same goes for some of the other woods listed on the chart such as sassafras which has three columns because it has three distinct "reactions".

I hope this helps.

Craig Stevens

Jim Childress:

My experience was with plywood which developed a visible fungus on a small patch. I used a respirator and eye goggles while sanding this fungus, but I forgot about my ears. I developed an infection in one ear which took two different special ointments from the Doctor to finally cure.
Do Not forget about ear protection from a fungus.
Regards,
Jim

Rolland Fisher:

How about Poplar?

(WR) Craig Stevens:

Rolland,

I wasn't able to find much on poplar for some reason. I did find one article that talked about poplar causing dermatitis (with sawdust contact) and rhinitis.

Some people my think they have a reaction to poplar because it's used in many sheet good materials. However, the culprit is usually formaldehyde (although this has been replaced in some sheet goods).

From what I've been able to dig up on poplar, it would probably be listed in the category of not likely to occur, but doesn't mean it can't.

The best defense against having any reaction to wood dust is to use simple precautions. Dust mask/respirator and wearing clothes that cover the skin if you're using woods that you've either had a reaction to in the past or using a wood that is likely to cause a reaction on the skin.

Hope this helps.

Craig

Grenville Belgraves:

Hi Guys,
Let me commend you on your site and the work that you are doing. I live in Trinidad, That is one Island of the twin Island state of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean.

I would like to share with the community some information on a problem which affected me. It is called "Tinnitus".
Tinnitus is a constant ringing in the ear.

You may research this and form your opinion, however, let me tell you how tis problem started with me. I was using my 24" Thicknessing Plane and the blade was pretty dull. The process of changing the blade is a bit tedious, so I endure the noise for about half an hour.
Following that time, I immediately began to hear a constant ringing noise in my ear which I interpret as an external noise at the time. Since then that ringing sound has never stopped.

I have sort medical treatment, but was advised that no cure is available.

So Guys, be careful with shop noise and dull tools, because this condition is very distressing and the ringing never stop.

Here is a good one. "My surname is Belgraves and I have always been called BEL.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Bel.

(WR) Craig:

Bel,

Thanks so much for your email. I wish I had thought to include the topic of Tinnitus in our "Woodworkers Safety Week" last month.

I too suffer from Tinnitus and probably a fair number of other woodworkers do as well unfortunately. I can't place a single event when my "ringing" started, it was more gradual.

For all you other woodworkers out there who think it can't happen to you, think again! Always wear hearing protection when you're using power tools. (This is also one of the big reasons I enjoy working with hand tools more and more).

You do tend to get somewhat use to the constant ringing, but when things are finally quiet at the end of the day, it's a constant reminder that you should have been more protective of your hearing.

Thanks again Bel for your reminder of this problem.

Craig Stevens

hi there ,
is it possible to have a reaction in the ears due to timber treatment or the actual wood itself?
I have an outhouse constructed of timber/spruce i believe.Each time i visit the place i get a warm swelling sensation in the ears.I have had countless allergy tests but everything so far has come back negitive.
Mnany thanks Lloyd

As a former Tinnitus sufferer I know how life changing this can be.

Great post!
Looking forward to future posts...

I have forwarded this link along to readers of my newsletter the Tinnitus Insider.

Thanks!

Kristy
Tinnitus Insider

A A V:

I've worked at a commercial mill/woodworking shop for about 3 years, I've suffered from asthma for about 15 years but recently my condition has worsened to the point of needing a nebulizer and pump everyday. I've requested safety devices [respirator, etc.], but the damage is done because these devices do more harm than good by restricting oxygen needed. In addition I contracted a skin condition which wouldn't go away for over 8 months. I finally had to pay to see a private physician and pay for medication to solve the situation which continues to reappear if I stop using the medication. I suggested it was due to the wood and it's contaminants, but was immediately shunned and laughed at by all in the shop. Until now I've been trying to obtain information about all the contaminants withint the workplace without success. If anything this is prrof everyone working with woods in any capacity should ensure their own health and safety, and many times this isn't enough. There has to be a way to hold these companies responsible for the wellbeing of their workers.

Scott Newton:

I bought myself a 3M respirator that is battery powered. I always neglected to wear my mask before because it was hot, but now with this unit I get lung protection and eye protection. Here's the 3M respirator that I got.

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)