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  • Travis

    By Travis

    Travis

    By Travis •

    Wood Toxicity Chart

    Working with certain hardwoods, especially exotic tropical woods, can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Some reactions are minor like eye irritation. Other reactions could be potentially fatal. Here is a toxicity chart of woods and their potential allergic reactions. This is not an exhaustive list. Please use care when working with any wood you are unfamiliar with.

    If you'd like a printable PDF version of this chart for your shop, you can download it here.

    Wood

    Reaction

    Site

    Potency

    Source

    Incidence

    Bald Cypress

    S

    R

    +

    D

    R

    Balsam Fir

    S

    E, S

    +

    LB

    C

    Beech

    S, C

    E, S, R

    ++

    LB, D

    C

    Birch

    S

    R

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Black Locust

    I, N

    E, S

    +++

    LB

    C

    Blackwood

    S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Boxwood

    S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Cashew

    S

    E, S

    +

    W, D

    R

    Cocobolo

    I, S

    E, S, R

    +++

    W, D

    C

    Dahoma

    I

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Ebony

    I, S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Elm

    I

    E, S

    +

    D

    R

    Goncalo Alves

    S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    R

    Greenheart

    S

    E, S

    +++

    W, D

    C

    Hemlock

    C

    R

    ?

    D

    U

    Iroko

    I, S, P

    E, S, R

    +++

    W, D

    U

    Mahogany

    S, P

    S, R

    +

    D

    U

    Mansonia

    I, S
    N

    E, S

    +++
    +

    W, D
    D

    C

    Maple (Spalted)

    S, P

    R

    +++

    D

    C

    Mimosa

    N

     

    ?

    LB

    U

    Myrtle

    S

    R

    ++

    LB, D

    C

    Oak

    S
    C

    E, S

    ++
    ?

    LB, D
    D

    R
    U

    Obeche

    I, S

    E, S, R

    +++

    W, D

    C

    Oleander

    DT

    N, C

    ++++

    D, W, LB

    C

    Olivewood

    I, S

    E, S, R

    +++

    W, D

    C

    Opepe

    S

    R

    +

    D

    R

    Padauk

    S

    E, S, R

    +

    W, D

    R

    Pau Ferro

    S

    E, S

    +

    W, D

    R

    Peroba Rosa

    I

    R, N

    ++

    W, D

    U

    Purpleheart

     

    N

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Quebracho

    I
    C

    R, N

    ++
    ?

    LB, D
    D

    C
    U

    Redwood

    S, P
    C

    E, S, R

    ++
    ?

    D
    D

    R
    U

    Rosewoods

    I, S

    E, S, R

    ++++

    W, D

    U

    Satinwood

    I

    E, S, R

    +++

    W, D

    C

    Sassafras

    S
    DT
    C

    R
    N
     

    +
    +
    ?

    D
    D, W, LB
    D

    C
    R
    U

    Sequoia

    I

    R

    +

    D

    R

    Snakewood

    I

    R

    ++

    W, D

    R

    Spruce

    S

    R

    +

    W, D

    R

    Walnut, Black

    S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

    C

    Wenge

    S

    E, S, R

    +

    W, D

    C

    Willow

    S

    R, N

    +

    D, W, LB

    U

    Western Red Cedar

    S

    R

    +++

    D, LB

    C

    Teak

    S, P

    E, S, R

    ++

    D

    C

    Yew

    I
    DT

    E, S
    N, C

    ++
    ++++

    D
    W, D

    C
    C

    Zebrawood

    S

    E, S

    ++

    W, D

     

     

    Reaction

    • I – irritant
    • S – sensitizer
    • C - nasopharyngeal cancer
    • P - pheunomitis, alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonia)
    • DT - direction toxin
    • N - nausea, malaise

    Site

    • S – skin
    • E – eyes
    • R – respiratory
    • C – cardiac Source
    • D – dust
    • LB - leaves, bark
    • W – wood

    Incidence

    • C – common
    • U - uncommon
    • R – rare

     

    What is a sensitizer?

    The more you are exposed to wood, the more sensitive you get to its exposure and the more severe your reactions are.

     

    Note: This is not an exhaustive list. You should use care when working with any wood you are unfamiliar with.

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    Recommended Comments

    Travis

    Although there have been no adverse health effects reported for Lacewood in the Panopsis genus, several other genera in the Proteaceae family have been reported to cause eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

    Source:  The Wood Database

     

    It sounds like it is unlikely to have adverse effects.  Maybe some eye and skin irritation at the most.  I'd just monitor your reaction as you work with any new wood. If you have severe allergies, it might be a good idea to have someone around in case you need more urgent care.

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    Wilson's Woodworking

    I was sanding some lace wood and some walnut with my 320 grit sanding mop for a project Sunday and must have got some of the fine dust in my eyes. Right now they look like two blue puddles in a sea of red even thou I was wearing my safety glasses. I will be purchasing a face shield to wear while I finish sand from now on.

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    Bendita

    One of the ones you rarely see here on these chart is common plywood in this case it's not so much the wood dust you need to concern yourself with as it is the glue one of the ingredients of the glue is formaldehyde I know my self when I'm cutting a lot of plywood my lips go numb that is a sure sign of formaldehyde poisoning. so do be careful of this product I also understand in the latest news they are about to introduce plastic in between layers of plywood for more strength and durability that should go over well with the environmental movement. Anyways just wanted to alert you to the plywood hazards, safe cutting.

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