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 known to be harmful to our health.
ID
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9
10
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13
14
15
Type
S Name
Reaction
Abura/bahia
Affected Area
Potency Sourc
Vomiting
Dust
Dust
Afromosia
Irritant
Afzelia/doussie
Irritant
Eye, skin,
+
respiratory,
splinters go septic,
nervous system
effects
dermatitis sneezing
Agba/tola
Irritant
Skin irritation
Alder
Irritant
And oba/crabwood
Irritant
Angelico
Irritant
Arborvitae
Irritant
Eye, skin,
respiratory,
dermatitis, rhinitis,
bronchial effects
sneezing, eye
irritation
Eye, skin,
Respiratory
Respiratory
Ash, Alpine
(Eucalyptus
deleqatensis)
Ash, Mountain
(Eucalyptus
regnans)
Dust
Dust
Irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis
Avodire
Irritant
Ayanmovinqui
Irritant
Respiratory,
decrease in lung
function, Irritation
to nose, eyes,
throat, headaches,
vomiting
dermatitis, nose
bleeds
Dermatitis
Balsam Fir
Sensitizer
Eyes, skin
Irritant
Dust
Leave
bark
Dust
unspecific effects
Basralocus/Angelique
Beech, European
(Fagus sylvatica)
Dust
Sensitizer, nausea,
nasopharyngeal cancer
Eyes, skin,
respiratory,
Dust,
wood
dermatitis,
decrease in lung
function, eye
irritation, nasal
cancer
leave
bark
Respiratory,
dermatitis on
sawing lumber
Eyes, skin
Birch
Sensitizer, nausea
Black Locust
Irritant, nausea
Blackbean
(Castanospermum
australe)
Blackwood (Acacia
melanoxylon)
Irritant
Irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis
Sensitizer
Blackwood (Surinam)
sensitizer
Dermatitis, asthma,
irritation of nose &
throat
Eyes, skin
21
Boxwood, European
(Bonus
sempervirens)
Sensitizer
22
Brazilian Cherry
(Jatoba)
Bubinga
Irritant
Cashew
Sensitizer
Cedar (American)
Irritant, sensitizer
allergic contact
dermatitis
28
Cedar, South
American (Cedrela
spp)
Irritant, sensitizer
29
Cedar, White (Melia
azedarach)
Chechem
Irritant, sensitizer
Dermatitis, asthma,
nasal cancer,
irritation to nose &
throat. Sap may
cause blistering of
skin &
inflammation of
eyelids
Dermatitis
16
17
18
19
20
23
24
25
Eye, nose, skin,
dermatitis,
respiratory, 6,
throat
Irritation to nose
&throat
Dermatitis, skin
lesions possible
Eyes, skin
Wood
dust
Leave
bark
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Wood
dust
26
27
30
Irritant, sensitizer
Eyes, skin,
respiratory
Wood
dust
Wood
dust
Dust,
wood
31
32
33
34
35
Chestnut
Dermatitis
(possibly from bark
lichens)
Eyes, skin,
respiratory
Cocobolo
Irritant, sensitizer
Coolibah (Eucalyptus
microtheca)
Crows Ash
(Flindersia Australia)
Cypress, Bald
Irritant
Dermatitis
Irritant
Dermatitis
Sensitizer
Respiratory
Dermatitis, swelling
eyelids, asthma,
irritation of nose &
throat, nasal
cancer, furuncilosis
Eyes, skin
Cypress Pine, White
(Callitt s glauca)
Sensitizer
Dahoma
Irritant
38
Ebony (Diospyros
spp)
Irritant, sensitizer
39
Elm, European
(Ulmus spp.)
Fir, Douglas
Irritant
Fir, Douglas (Oregon
- Pseudo1suga
menzies)
Freijo/cordial
Irritant, nasophatyngeal
cancer
Irritant, sensitizer
Eyes, skin
Gaboon/okoume
Irritant
Asthma, cough,
eye irritation,
dermal effects
(hands, eyelids)
Dermatitis
36
37
40
41
42
43
44
45
Gedu nohor/edinam
Goncalo ayes
Irritant, Sensitizer
Irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis, mucous
membrane
irritation, possibly a
skin sensitizer
Eyes, skin
Dermatitis,
splinters go septic,
rhinitis, bronchial
effects
Dermatitis, nasal
cancer, irritation to
eyes & throat
Eyes, skin
Dust,
wood
Dust
Dust
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust
Dust
Dust
Dust,
wood
46
47
48
49
50
51
Eyes, skin,
splinters as septic,
cardiac & intestinal
disorders, severe
throat irritation
Eczema, irritation
to nose & throat
Dust,
wood
Sensitizer
Dust
40 Gum (southern
blue)
Hemlock (western)
Eyes, skin, and
mucous membrane
irritation
Dermatitis
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Respiratory
Dust
Idigbo
Possible irritant
Iroko
Irritant, sensitizer,
pneumonias
Greenheart
Sensitizer
Grey Box (Eucalyptus
microcarpa)
Guarea
Irritant
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
Jarrah
+++
Dust,
wood
Eyes, skin,
respiratory
Eyes, skin
+
Dust
+
Dust,
wood
Katon
Irritation to nose &
throat
Irritant
Kingwood
Irritant
Larch
irritant
nettle rash,
dermatitis (possibly
from bark lichens)
Limba
Irritant
Mahogany
Irritant
splinters go septic,
nettle rash, nose
and gum bleeding,
decrease in lung
function
dermatitis,
respiratory
disorders, mucous
membrane irritation
Lauan/Meranti
Eucalyptus
marginata
"Eyes, skin,
respiratory,
bronchial effects,
rhinitis
Irrant
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
skin, respiratory
+
dust
Mahogany African
sensitizer, pneumoitis
alveoloti
Irritant, sensitizer
Skin, respiratory
+++
Dust
Mahogany American
Sensitizer
+
Dust
Makore
Irritant
+
Dust
Mansonia
Irritant, sensitizer,
nausea, malaise
+++
Dust,
wood
Manzinilla
Irritant
Eyes, skin,
respiratory
Eyes, skin,
dermatitis, mucous
membrane and
respiratory tract
irritation, central
nervous system
and blood effects
Eyes, skin,
splinters go septic,
skin sensitization,
irritation,
respiratory
disorders, nose
bleeds, headache,
cardiac disorders
Respiratory
++
Maple
Sensitizer, pneumonia
+++
Maple (Spalted - C.
Corticale mold)
Meranti
Sensitizer, pneumonia
decrease in lung
function
Respiratory
Dust,
wood
Dust
+++
Dust
++++
"Leav
bark"
Mahogany
Swietenia
(Shorea spp.)
Meranti/lauan
Messmate
Irritant
(Eucalyptus
obliqua)
Mimosa
Miva Mahogany
Irritant
(Dysoxylum
muelleri)
Irritant
"Direct toxin, irritant,
nausea"
Irritant
Irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis
skin irritation
"Asthma,
dermatitis"irritation
to nose, eyes &
throat,
Respiratory
Congested lungs,
irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis,
headache, nose
bleeding & loss of
appetite
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
Mulga
(Acacia aneura)
Myrtle
Sensitizer
Respiratory
+++
Oak
Sensitizer,
nasopharyngeal cancer
Eyes, skin,
asthma, sneezing,
eye irritation
++
Obeche
Irritant, sensitizer
+++
Oleander
Direct toxin, malaise,
nausea
Eyes, skin and
respiratory tract
irritation, nettle
rash, dermatitis,
feverish, sneezing,
wheezing
Cardiac,
respiratory
Olivewood
Irritant, sensitizer
Eyes, skin,
respiratory
+++
Opepe
Sensitizer
+
Orangewood
Irritant
Respiratory,
dermatitis, mucous
membrane
irritation, central
nervous system
effects e.g.
giddiness, visual
effects; nose
bleeds and blood
spitting
Respiratory
Padauk
Sensitizer, nausea,
malaise
+++
Pau Ferro
Sensitizer
Speciesdependant: itching,
eye, skin &
respiratory
irritation, vomiting,
swelling (e.g.
eyelids)
Eyes, skin
++++
+
+
Dust,
wood
leave
bark
"Dust
wood
leave
bark"
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
leave
bark
Dust,
Wood
Dust
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
Wood
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
irritant, nausea, malaise
skin and mucous
membrane
irritation; systemic
effects e.g.
headache, nausea,
stomach cramp,
weakness, blisters
Respiratory
++
Peroba White
Irritant, nausea
Respiratory
++
Pine
Irritant
Poplar
Irritant
Skin irritation (may ++
cause
photosensitization);
decrease in lung
function
sneezing, eye
irritation, may
cause blisters
Dermatitis, violent
ear ache,
giddiness, stomach
cramps, bronchitis,
irritation of mucous
membranes
Respiratory
++
Peroba
Irritant
Peroba Rosa
Port Orford Cedar
(Chamaecyparis Irritant
lawsoniana)
Purpleheart
Nausea
Quebracho
Irritant, malaise,
nasopharyngeal cancer,
nausea
Irritant
Ramin
Redwood
(Sequoia
sempervirens)
"Sensitizer,
nasopharyngeal cancer,
, pneumoitis alveolotis"
Rimu
(Dacrydium
cupressinum)
Irritant
Rosewoods
Irritant, sensitizer,
irritant
Respiratory
++, ?
Eyes, skin,
++
dermatitis (possibly
from bark)
Skin, eyes,
+++
respiratory,
dermatitis &
asthma
Irritation to eyes &
nose
"Skin, eyes,
respiratory,
dermatitis. Effects
may arise from
handling wood"
++++
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
wood
Dust,
leave
bark
Dust,
wood
Dust
Dust,
wood
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
Sapele
Irritant
skin irritation
Sassafras
Direct toxin, sensitizer,
nasopharyngeal cancer,
nausea
Respiratory
+, ?
Satinwood
Irritant
Skin, eyes,
respiratory
+++
Sequoia
Irritant, nasopharyngeal
cancer
Irritant
Respiratory
+
Respiratory
++
Dust
and
wood
Irritant
Dermatitis
Spruce
Sensitizer
+
Dust
and
wood
Stave Wood
Irritant
Respiratory,
respiratory
disorders, possible
photosensitization
Respiratory
+
Sucupira
Irritant
Respiratory
+
Teak
Sensitizer, pneumoitis
alveolotis
Skin, eyes,
respiratory,
dermatitis (potent,
even after
seasoning) nettle
rash
Dermatitis,
conjunctivitis,
oversensitivity to
light, swelling of
the scrotum,
irritation to nose &
throat, nausea
skin irritation
+++
Dust
and
wood
Dust
and
wood
Dust
Snakewood
Spotted Gum
Teak
Utile
(Eucalyptus
maculate)
(Tectona
grandis)
Irritant
Irritant
Dust,
wood
leave
bark
Dust
and
Wood
Dust
108
109
110
112
112
113
114
115
116
Whitewood
Irritant
Skin, eyes,
sneezing, rhinitis,
dermatitis from nut
shells and roots
"Nasal cancer,
irritation to nose,
eyes & throat,
dermatitis
"Skin, eyes,
respiratory,
splinters go septic;
dermatitis, central
nervous system
effects e.g.
giddiness,
drowsiness, visual
disturbance,
abdominal cramps
Asthma, dermatitis,
nasal cancer,
nausea, rhinitis,
nose bleeding,
giddiness, stomach
pain
Asthma, skin
irritation
Dermatitis
Willow
Sensitizer
Respiratory
Irritant
Irritation of nose &
throat
Direct toxin, irritant,
nausea,
malaise, nasopharyngeal
cancer
Skin, eyes,
cardiac,
respiratory,
dermatitis,
systemic effects
e.g. headache,
blood pressure
drop, cardiac
effects
Walnut, Black
Walnut, European
Sensitizer
(Juglans regia)
Wenge
Sensitizer
Sensitizer
Western Red Cedar
(Thuga plicata)
Sensitizer,
nasopharyngeal cancer
White Baltic
(Picea abies)
Irritant
Yellow Gum
Yew
(Eucalyptus
leucoxylon)
++
Dust
and
wood
++
Dust,
wood
++
Dust,
wood
+++
Dust,
leave
bark
+
Dust,
wood
leave
bark
++,++++ Dust,
wood
117
Zebrawood
Sensitizer
http://www.billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/WoodToxicityTable.cfm
Skin, eyes
++
Dust,
wood