Data:
Data on Wood toxicity compliments of the Wood Database.
| Wood Species |
Reaction |
Area(s) Affected
|
Potency |
| Abura | irritant, nausea, and giddiness |
 |
 |
| African Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| African Boxwood | irritant, headache, asthma |
 |
|
| Afrormosia | irritant, nervous system effects, asthma, splinters go septic |
|
|
| Afzelia | irritant, sneezing |
|
 |
| Agba | irritant |
|
|
| Albizzia (Albizia genus) | irritant, nausea, conjunctivitis, giddiness, nose bleeds |
|
|
| Alder (Alnus genus) | irritant |
|
 |
| Alligator Juniper | irritant |
|
|
| Alpine Ash | irritant |
|
|
| Amboyna | irritant, asthma |
|
|
| Andiroba | irritant, sneezing |
|
|
| Araracanga | irritant, asthma |
|
|
| Ash (Fraxinus genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Ash, Mountain | irritant |
|
|
| Australian Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer, asthma |
|
|
| Australian Cashew Nut | irritant, skin lesions, nosebleeds |
|
 |
| Avodire | irritant, nose bleeds, internal bleeding, asthma |
|
|
| Balsa | irritant |
|
|
| Bamboo | irritant |
|
|
| Birch (Betula genus) | irritant, sensitizer, nausea |
|
|
| Black Cherry | wheezing, giddiness |
|
|
| Black Locust | irritant, nausea |
|
|
| Blackbean | irritant |
|
|
| Bloodwood | excessive thirst, salivation, nausea | N/A |
|
| Bluegum | irritant |
|
|
| Blue Mahoe | sneezing |
|
|
| Bocote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed |
|
|
| Bosse | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, nausea, headache |
|
|
| Boxwood | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Brazilian Rosewood | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Brazilwood | irritant, headache, nausea, swelling skin, blisters |
|
|
| Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) | irritant |
|
|
| Bubinga | irritant, lesions |
|
|
| Buckthorn | irritant, sap can cause dermatitis |
|
|
| Bulletwood | irritant |
|
|
| Camphor | irritant, asthma, headaches, giddiness |
|
|
| Cashew | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Catalpa | irritant |
|
|
| Cedar, Alaskan Yellow | irritant |
|
|
| Cedar, Aromatic Red | irritant |
|
|
| Cedar, Atlantic White | irritant |
|
|
| Cedar, Australian Red | irritant, asthma, violent headache, giddiness, bronchitis, stomach cramps, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Cedar, Incense | irritant, rashes |
|
|
| Cedar of Lebanon | irritant, asthma, 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, asthma, nervous system effects, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Chechen | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Chestnut, Chinese (Castanea mollissima) | irritant |
|
|
| Chestnut, Sweet | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Chinaberry | irritant, headaches |
|
|
| Cocobolo | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma, conjunctivitis |
|
|
| Cocuswood | irritant |
|
|
| Coolibah | irritant |
|
|
| Copaia | irritant |
|
|
| Crow’s Ash | irritant |
|
|
| Cuban Mahogany | irritant |
|
|
| Cypress | sensitizer |
|
|
| Cypress, Australian | irritant, asthma, swelling of eyelids, boils, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Dahoma | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Dead Finish (Acacia tetragonophylla) | irritant, splinters go septic |
|
|
| Djohar | irritant, skin discoloration, keratitis |
|
|
| Douglas-fir | irritant, giddiness, splinters go septic, nausea |
|
|
| East Indian Rosewood | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Ebony (Diospyros genus) | irritant, sensitizer, conjunctivitis |
|
|
| Ebony, Macassar | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Ekki | irritant |
|
|
| Elm (Ulmus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| European Beech | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Eyoum | irritant |
|
|
| Fir (Abies genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Fir, Balsam | irritant |
|
|
| Freijo | sensitizer |
|
|
| Garapa | irritant |
|
|
| Gedu Nohor | irritant |
|
|
| Goncalo Alves | sensitizer |
|
|
| Grasstree | irritant |
|
|
| Greenheart | sensitizer, wheezing, splinters go septic, cardiac and intestinal disorders |
 |
|
| Grey Box | irritant, rash |
|
|
| Hemlock, Eastern | irritant |
|
|
| Hemlock, Mountain | irritant |
|
|
| Hemlock, Western | irritant, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Hophornbeam | irritant |
|
|
| Hornbeam (Carpinus genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Idigbo | irritant |
|
|
| Imbuia | irritant |
|
|
| Indian Beech | irritant |
|
|
| Ipe | irritant, headache, asthma, vision effects |
|
|
| Iroko | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, boils, giddiness, HP |
|
|
| Jacareuba | irritant, fainting, insomnia, kidney damage |
|
|
| Jarrah | irritant |
|
|
| Jatoba | irritant |
|
|
| Jelutong | irritant |
|
|
| Juniper, Phoenician (Juniperus phoenicea) | irritant, headache, nausea |
|
|
| Katalox | irritant |
|
|
| Keruing | irritant |
|
|
| Kingwood | irritant, sensitizer, conjunctivitis |
|
|
| Lacewood | irritant |
|
|
| Larch (Larix genus) | irritant, hives, lesions |
|
|
| Leadwood (Combretum genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Lemon-Scented Gum | 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 |
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| Marupa | irritant |
|
|
| Meranti (Shorea genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Merbau | irritant |
|
|
| Mesquite (Prosopis genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Messmate | irritant, asthma |
|
|
Milky Mangrove |
sap is poisonous, causes irritation to eyes and/or temporary blindness, headache, burning of throat, blistering of skin |
|
|
| Missanda | irritant, headache, giddiness, nausea, disorders of bowels and stomach |
|
|
| Molopangady | irritant, sores |
|
|
| Monkeypod | irritant |
|
|
| Mora | irritant |
|
|
| Movingui | irritant |
|
|
| Muhuhu | irritant |
|
|
|
Mulga (Acacia aneura) |
irritant, headache, nausea, 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 |
|
|
| New Zealand White Pine | irritant |
|
|
| Norway Spruce | irritant, asthma |
|
|
| Nyatoh | irritant |
|
|
| Oak (Quercus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Obeche | irritant, sensitizer, rash, asthma |
|
|
| Okoume | irritant, cough, asthma |
|
|
| 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 genus) | irritant |
|
|
| Pau Ferro | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Pau Marfim | irritant |
|
|
| Pau Rosa | irritant |
|
|
| Peroba Rosa | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma |
|
|
| Persimmon | irritant |
|
|
| Pheasantwood | cavities in the wood can contain powder that is an irritant |
|
|
| Pine (Pinus genus) | irritant, asthma |
|
|
|
Poison Walnut |
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 |
|
|
| Red Bloodwood (Australian) | irritant |
|
|
| Redwood | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, HP, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Rengas | sap is strongly irritating, blisters, ulcers, fever, constitutional effects |
|
|
| Rimu | irritant |
|
|
| Rose Butternut | irritant, conjunctivitis |
|
|
| Rosewood (Dalbergia genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma |
|
|
| Saffron-Heart | irritant, splinters go septic, lung congestion |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
| Sissoo | irritant |
|
|
| Slash Pine | irritant, asthma |
|
|
| Snakewood | irritant |
|
|
| Sneezewood | irritant, oils within the wood cause violent sneezing |
|
|
| Spotted Gum | irritant |
|
|
| Spruce (Picea genus) | irritant, sensitizer |
|
|
| Sucupira | irritant |
|
|
| Sumac (Rhus genus) | irritant, bark may cause blisters |
|
|
| Sweetgum | irritant |
|
|
| Tambootie | irritant, diarrhea, blindness, direct toxin |
|
|
| Tatajuba | irritant |
|
|
| Teak | irritant, sensitizer, rash, nausea, asthma, vision effects, conjunctivitis, HP |
|
|
| Thuya | irritant |
|
|
| Tree of Heaven | 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 |
|
|
| Western Hemlock | irritant, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) | irritant |
|
|
| White Peroba | irritant, sensitizer, asthma |
|
|
| Willow (Salix genus) | sensitizer, nausea, NPC (rare) |
|
|
| Yellow Gum | irritant |
|
|
|
Yew (Taxus genus) |
irritant, nausea, direct toxin |
|
|
| Yellowheart | irritant |
|
|
| Zebrawood | sensitizer |
|
|
| Ziricote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed |
|
|
- 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.
- Robison, Nick von, Potentially Toxic Woods, Musical Instrument Makers Forum, 1998
- 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
- Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2008
- Forest Products Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture