Wood Allergies and Toxicity
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by Eric Meier
“Not to omit any one of them, the yew is similar to these other trees in general appearance . . . It is an ascertained fact that travellers’ vessels, made in Gaul of this wood, for the purpose of holding wine, have caused the death of those who used them.”
–Pliny the Elder, from Naturalis Historia, ca. 77 AD
Looking at the above quotation, (taken from a writing nearly two thousand years old), ought to bring—at the very least—a small bit of respect and attention to the matter of safety as it pertains to wood toxicity. If this subject has been known and reported as “ascertained fact”since ancient history, how much more ought we to take heed in modern times, considering that we have so many more well-developed means of communication and testing?
Wood Toxicity and Allergen Chart
Below you’ll find a chart of various wood species, along with their reported effects and properties. The information on this chart has been compiled from many sources, with references given at the bottom. When viewing the chart, please keep the follow in mind:
Just because any given wood is not listed on the chart, does not mean that it is completely safe to use. It simply means that adverse reactions have not been reported as of yet. (The wood may be very obscure or unknown.) One helpful thing to do if you have confirmed that you’re allergic to a specific species of wood, is to check for related species (listed at the end of each wood profile page). Many times, a wood in a particular genus will share similar allergic compounds with other related woods, resulting in cross-reactions.) For example, Cocobolo is in the Dalbergia genus, and is also closely related to other woods such as Kingwood, Tulipwood, Honduran Rosewood, etc. Also, you may notice two wood types that sound like they’re related, such as Black Cherry (Prunus genus) and Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea genus), but they are actually quite unrelated.
All inhaled wood dust is hazardous to your long-term health. This chart simply lists specific woods that can aggravate symptoms through allergic reactions, or woods that are outright toxic in and of themselves. However, all woods produce fine dust when worked, which in turn can damage your lungs and cause a number of other adverse health reactions. (This particular health issue—and the unhealthy buildup of such dusts in small woodworking or hobbyist shops—has been dealt with at length on Bill Pentz’ website.)
A common question: is this wood safe to use as a plate/bowl/cutting board/etc.? Despite the very long list of woods below, very few woods are actually toxic in and of themselves. But what a great number of woods do have the potential to do is cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This risk for finished wood projects is greatly lessened (but not eliminated) with the application of a food-safe finish. In the end, using almost any wood is a calculated risk, and the question boils down to this: how much of a potential risk am I comfortable with? 1 in 10? 1 in 1,000? 1 in 1,000,000?
| Wood Species | Reaction | Area(s) Affected | Potency |
| Abura | irritant, nausea, giddiness, and vomiting | ||
| African Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Afrormosia | irritant, nervous system effects, asthma, splinters go septic | ||
| Afzelia | irritant, sneezing | ||
| Agba (Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum) | irritant | ||
| Ailanthus | irritant | ||
| Albizia | irritant, nausea, pink eye, giddiness, nose bleeds | ||
| Alder (Alnus genus) | irritant | ||
| Alligator Juniper | irritant | ||
| Amboyna | irritant, asthma | ||
| Andiroba | irritant, sneezing | ||
| Angelim vermelho | unspecific allergic reactions | ||
| Araracanga | irritant, asthma | ||
| Ash (Fraxinus genus) | irritant | ||
| Ash, alpine (Eucalyptus delegatensis) | irritant | ||
| Ash, mountain | irritant | ||
| Australian Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer, asthma | ||
| Australian Cashew Nut (Semecarpus australiensis) | irritant, skin lesions, nosebleeds | ||
| Avodire | irritant, nose bleeds, internal bleeding, asthma | ||
| Balsa | irritant | ||
| Bamboo | irritant | ||
| Batai | irritant, sneezing | ||
| Birch (Betula genus) | irritant, sensitizer, nausea | ||
| Black Cherry | wheezing, giddiness | ||
| Black Locust | irritant, nausea | ||
| Blackbean | irritant | ||
| Bloodwood | irritant, excessive thirst, salivation, nausea | ||
| Bloodwood, Red (Australian) | irritant | ||
| Blue Gum | irritant | ||
| Blue Mahoe | sneezing | ||
| Bocote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed | ||
| Bosse | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, nausea, headache | ||
| Box, Gray | irritant, rash | ||
| Boxwood, Knysna (Gonioma kamassi) | irritant, headache, asthma | ||
| Boxwood, European | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Brazilwood | irritant, headache, nausea, swelling skin, blisters | ||
| Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) | irritant | ||
| Brownheart | irritant | ||
| Bubinga | irritant, lesions | ||
| Buckthorn | irritant, sap can cause dermatitis | ||
| Bulletwood | irritant | ||
| Camphor | irritant, asthma, headaches, giddiness | ||
| Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) | irritant, blisters, sensitizer | ||
| Catalpa | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Alaskan Yellow | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Aromatic Red | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Atlantic White | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Australian Red | irritant, asthma, migraine, giddiness, bronchitis, stomach cramps, NPC(rare) | ||
| Cedar, Incense | irritant, rashes | ||
| Cedar of Lebanon | irritant, asthma, runny nose, respiratory disorders | ||
| Cedar, Northern White | irritant, asthma | ||
| Cedar, Port Orford | irritant, runny nose, asthma, kidney problems (diuresis) | ||
| Cedar, Spanish | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Southern Red | irritant | ||
| Cedar, Western Red | irritant, sensitizer, runny nose, asthma, nervous system effects, NPC(rare) | ||
| Chechen | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Chestnut, Chinese (Castanea mollissima) | irritant | ||
| Chestnut, Sweet | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Chico Zapote | irritant (nasal) | ||
| Chinaberry | irritant, headaches | ||
| Cocobolo | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma, pink eye | ||
| Cocuswood | irritant | ||
| Coolibah | irritant | ||
| Copaia (Jacaranda copaia) | irritant | ||
| Crow’s Ash (Flindersia australis) | irritant | ||
| Cuban Mahogany | irritant | ||
| Cypress | sensitizer | ||
| Cypress, Australian | irritant, asthma, swelling of eyelids, boils, NPC (rare) | ||
| Cypress, Gowen | irritant | ||
| Cypress, Leyland | irritant | ||
| Cypress, Mediterranean | irritant, rashes, headaches | ||
| Cypress, Mexican | irritant | ||
| Cypress, Monterey | irritant | ||
| Dahoma (Piptadeniastrum africanum) | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Dead Finish (Acacia tetragonophylla) | irritant, splinters go septic | ||
| Douglas-fir | irritant, giddiness, runny nose, splinters go septic, nausea | ||
| Ebony (Diospyros genus) | irritant, sensitizer, pink eye | ||
| Ebony, Brown | irritant | ||
| Ebony, Macassar | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Ekki | irritant | ||
| Elm (Ulmus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) | ||
| European Beech | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) | ||
| Eyoum (Dialium dinklagei) | irritant | ||
| Fir (Abies genus) | irritant | ||
| Fir, Balsam | irritant | ||
| Freijo | irritant, sensitizer, dryness/thirst | ||
| Garapa | irritant | ||
| Goncalo Alves | sensitizer | ||
| Grasstree (Xanthorrhoea spp.) | irritant | ||
| Greenheart | sensitizer, wheezing, severe throat irritation, splinters go septic, cardiac and intestinal disorders | ||
| Guanacaste | irritant | ||
| Gum, Lemon-Scented | irritant | ||
| Gum, Spotted | irritant, rashes | ||
| Gum, Yellow | irritant | ||
| Hackberry | irritant | ||
| Hemlock, Eastern | irritant | ||
| Hemlock, Mountain | irritant | ||
| Hemlock, Western | irritant, runny nose, NPC (rare) | ||
| Hophornbeam | irritant | ||
| Hornbeam (Carpinus genus) | irritant | ||
| Idigbo | irritant | ||
| Imbuia | irritant | ||
| Indian Beech (Pongamia pinnata) | irritant | ||
| Indian Laurel | irritant | ||
| Ipe | irritant, headache, asthma, vision effects | ||
| Iroko | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, boils, giddiness, HP | ||
| Ironwood, Desert | irritant, sneezing, coughing | ||
| Jarrah | irritant | ||
| Jatoba | irritant | ||
| Jelutong | irritant | ||
| Juniper, Phoenician (Juniperus phoenicea) | irritant, headache, nausea | ||
| Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides) | irritant | ||
| Karri | irritant | ||
| Katalox | irritant | ||
| Keruing | irritant | ||
| Kingwood | irritant, sensitizer, pink eye | ||
| Koto | irritant | ||
| Laburnum | constitutional effects (nausea, vomiting, headaches); direct toxin | N/A | |
| Lacewood | irritant | ||
| Larch (Larix genus) | irritant, hives, lesions | ||
| Leadwood (Combretum genus) | irritant | ||
| Lebbeck | irritant | ||
| Lignum Vitae | irritant | ||
| Limba | irritant, hives, splinters go septic, asthma, bleeding of the nose and gums | ||
| Machiche | irritant | ||
| Magnolia (Magnolia genus) | asthma, runny nose | ||
| Mahogany, African | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) | ||
| Mahogany, Honduran | irritant, sensitizer, boils, nausea, giddiness, asthma, HP | ||
| Mahogany, Santos | irritant | ||
| Makore | irritant, nausea, headache, giddiness, nervous system and blood effects | ||
| Mango | irritant | ||
| Mansonia | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, sneezing, headaches, nosebleeds, splinters go septic, asthma, giddiness, cardiac disorders | ||
| Maple (Acer genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma; HP in spalted maple | ||
| Maple, Queensland | irritant | ||
| Meranti (Shorea genus) | irritant | ||
| Merbau | irritant | ||
| Mesquite (Prosopis genus) | irritant | ||
| Messmate | irritant, asthma | ||
| Milky Mangrove (Excoecaria agallocha) | sap is poisonous, causes irritation to eyes and/or temporary blindness, headache, burning of throat, blistering of skin | ||
| Mimosa | irritant | ||
| Moabi | irritant (mucous membranes) | ||
| Molopangady (Breonia madagascariensis) | irritant, sores | ||
| Monkeypod | irritant | ||
| Mora | irritant | ||
| Movingui | irritant | ||
| Muhuhu (Brachylaena hutchinsii) | irritant | ||
| Mulga | irritant, headache, nausea, lesions, wood contains a virulent poisonous principle used for spear heads by aboriginals | ||
| Muninga | irritant, asthma, bronchitis | ||
| Myrtle | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Myrtle, Tasmanian | irritant | ||
| Narra | irritant, asthma | ||
| Norway Spruce | irritant, asthma | ||
| Nyatoh | irritant | ||
| Oak (Quercus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, NPC (rare) | ||
| Obeche | irritant, sensitizer, runny nose, sneezing, hives, asthma | ||
| Okoume | irritant, cough, asthma, pink eye | ||
| Oleander (Nerium oleander) | irritant, nearly every part of the plant is toxic, cardiac effects | ||
| Olive | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Opepe | irritant, sensitizer, nervous system effects | ||
| Osage Orange | irritant, sap can cause dermatitis | ||
| Osage Orange, Argentine | irritant, sap can cause dermatitis | ||
| Padauk (Pterocarpus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma | ||
| Palm (Arecaceae family) | irritant, constitutional effects | ||
| Parinari (Parinari spp.) | irritant | ||
| Partridgewood | irritant, hives, coughing | ||
| Pau Ferro | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Pau Marfim (Balfourodendron riedelianum) | irritant | ||
| Pau Rosa | irritant | ||
| Pau Santo | irritant | ||
| Peroba Rosa | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma | ||
| Persimmon | irritant | ||
| Pheasantwood | cavities in the wood can contain powder that is an irritant, skin discoloration | ||
| Pine (Pinus genus) | irritant, runny nose, asthma | ||
| Pine, Huon | irritant | ||
| Pistachio | irritant | ||
| Poison Walnut (Cryptocarya pleurosperma) | bark irritating to skin, dust may cause asthma, nausea, giddiness, sap is toxic and corrosive | ||
| Poplar | irritant, blisters, asthma, bronchitis | ||
| Primavera | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Purpleheart | irritant, sensitizer, nausea | ||
| Quebracho | irritant, nausea, NPC (rare) | ||
| Quina | irritant | ||
| Ramin | irritant, splinters go septic, asthma | ||
| Redwood | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, HP, NPC(rare) | ||
| Rengas | sap is strongly irritating, blisters, ulcers, fever, constitutional effects | ||
| Rhodesian Teak | irritant | ||
| Rose Butternut (Blepharocarya involucrigera) | irritant, pink eye | ||
| Rosewood (Dalbergia genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma | ||
| Rosewood, Brazilian | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Rosewood, East Indian | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Rosewood, Siamese | irritant, rash, hives, sensitizer | ||
| Rubberwood | irritant, sensitizer (latex allergy) | ||
| Saffron-Heart (Halfordia scleroxyloa) | irritant, splinters go septic, lung congestion | ||
| Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense) | irritant, fainting, insomnia, kidney damage | ||
| Sassafras | sensitizer, nausea, respiratory, direct toxin, NPC (rare) | ||
| Sapele | irritant, sneezing | ||
| Satinwood, East Indian | irritant, headache, diarrhea, sensitizer | ||
| Satinwood, West Indian | irritant, diarrhea, rash, blisters, sensitizer | ||
| Shittim (Acacia seyal) | irritant, coughing | ||
| Silky Oak, Northern | irritant | ||
| Silky Oak, Southern | irritant, sap may cause blistering of skin, eyelid inflammation | ||
| Simarouba (Simarouba amara) | irritant | ||
| Sissoo | irritant | ||
| Slash Pine | irritant, asthma | ||
| Snakewood | irritant | ||
| Sneezewood | irritant, oils within the wood cause violent sneezing | ||
| Spruce (Picea genus) | irritant, sensitizer | ||
| Sucupira (Bowdichia nitida) | irritant | ||
| Sugi | unspecified allergic reactions | ||
| Sumac (Rhus spp.) | irritant, bark may cause blisters | ||
| Sweetgum | irritant | ||
| Tali (Erythrophleum suaveolens) | irritant, headache, giddiness, nausea, disorders of bowels and stomach | ||
| Tambootie | irritant, diarrhea, blindness, direct toxin | ||
| Tatajuba | irritant | ||
| Teak | irritant, sensitizer, rash, nausea, asthma, vision effects, pink eye, HP | ||
| Thuya | irritant | ||
| Tiama (Entandrophragma angolense) | irritant | ||
| Turpentine | irritant, swelling | ||
| Tzalam | cold-like symptoms | ||
| Utile | irritant | ||
| Verawood | sneezing | ||
| Walnut, African | irritant, systemic effects, NPC (rare) | ||
| Walnut, Black | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) | ||
| Walnut, English | irritant, NPC (rare) | ||
| Wamara | irritant | ||
| Wenge | irritant, sensitizer, splinters go septic, nervous system effects, abdominal cramps | ||
| Western Hemlock | irritant, NPC (rare) | ||
| Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) | irritant | ||
| White Peroba (Paratecoma peroba) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma | ||
| Willow (Salix spp.) | sensitizer, nausea, NPC (rare) | ||
| Yew (Taxus spp.) | irritant, nausea, headache, cardiac effects, direct toxin | ||
| Yellowheart | irritant | ||
| Zebrawood | sensitizer | ||
| Ziricote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed | ||
| Zitan | irritant, vomiting |
References:
- Woods Toxic to Man, author unknown
- Woods, B., Calnan, C.D., Toxic Woods, Br. Journal of Dermatology, 1976
- ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 1983
- Lame, K., McAnn, MEDIUM., AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, AMA 1985
- Poisondex, Micromedix Inc. 1990
- List of woods and toxicity characteristics, Roy Banner, 1989
- Toxic Woods Information Sheet, (Woodworking sheet #30), Health and Safety Executive, UK
- Campbell, Bruce, Wood/Dust Toxicity, 2006
- Ellis, Neil, Health Hazards & Wood, 1998
- Mitchell, John, and Arthur Rook, Botanical Dermatology, 1979
- Pentz, Bill, Medical Risks, 2008
- Timbers & Health, Woodturners Society of Queensland, Inc.
- Chudnoff, Martin, Tropical Timbers of the World, Forest Products Laboratory, 1980
- Kukachka, Francis, Properties of Imported Tropical Woods, Forest Products Laboratory, 1969
- Sims, Michael, and Erica Skadsen, Wood Hazards, BMEzine.com LLC, 2006
- Forest Products Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture
What is a Sensitizer?
You’ve probably already heard the term desensitized—usually in reference to violent movies or images—meaning that we start off as naturally being sensitive to something, and upon more and frequent exposure, we become less and less sensitive to its effects.
Well, with some woods that have been classified as being a sensitizer, the opposite is true: the more we are exposed to a wood’s sawdust or other fine particles, the more sensitive we get to its exposure, and the more severe and adverse the reactions become.
If you ever have an allergic reaction to any wood that has been identified as a sensitizer, use extreme caution in handling or using that species (and related species) in future instances. Some have reactions so severe that they simply have had to stop and discontinue using certain wood species altogether. (Cocobolo is notorious in this regard.)
What is HP?
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (also called extrinsic allergic alveolitis, EAA) is an inflammation of the alveoli within the lung caused by hypersensitivity to inhaled organic dusts. HP on PubMedHealth.
What is NPC?
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, or sometimes called nasopharyngeal cancer. Basically, it is a cancer of the upper area of the pharynx or “throat,” where the nasal passages and auditory tubes join the remainder of the upper respiratory tract. NPC on MayoClinic.com.
Are you an aspiring wood nerd?
The poster, Worldwide Woods, Ranked by Hardness,should be required reading for anyone enrolled in the school of wood nerdery. I have amassed over 500 wood species on a single poster, arranged into eight major geographic regions, with each wood sorted and ranked according to its Janka hardness. Each wood has been meticulously documented and photographed, listed with its Janka hardness value (in lbf) and geographic and global hardness rankings. Consider this: the venerable Red Oak (Quercus rubra) sits at only #33 in North America and #278 worldwide for hardness! Aspiring wood nerds be advised: your syllabus may be calling for Worldwide Woods as part of your next assignment!