Wood Allergens and Toxicity
Some people are sensitive to certain species of wood, wood dust, or wood oils. Eye, respiratory, and skin irritation can occur, and can be extreme in some cases. All woods, regardless of species, produce sawdust that is harmful when inhaled.
Because of this, we always recommend using appropriate eye, nose, and skin protective equipment when working with wood. When working with an unfamiliar species, be sure to assess the potential for any adverse reaction prior to starting a project.
The chart below lists woods known to cause reactions in sensitive individuals. It is not intended to cover all species:
| Wood Species | Reaction |
|---|---|
| African Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer |
| Alder (Alnus genus) | irritant |
| Andiroba | irritant, sneezing |
| Angelim vermelho | unspecific allergic reactions |
| Ash (Fraxinus genus) | irritant |
| Birch (Betula genus) | irritant, sensitizer, nausea |
| Bloodwood | irritant, excessive thirst, salivation, nausea |
| Bocote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed |
| Bubinga | irritant, lesions |
| Camphor | irritant, asthma, headaches, giddiness |
| Cedar, Aromatic Red | irritant |
| Cedar, Spanish | irritant |
| Chechen | irritant, sensitizer |
| Chinaberry | irritant, headaches |
| Cocobolo | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma, pink eye |
| Cypress | sensitizer |
| Cypress, Australian | irritant, asthma, swelling of eyelids, boils, NPC (rare) |
| Ebony (Diospyros genus) | irritant, sensitizer, pink eye |
| Ebony, Macassar | irritant, sensitizer |
| Garapa | irritant |
| Greenheart | sensitizer, wheezing, severe throat irritation, splinters go septic, cardiac and intestinal disorders |
| Imbuia | irritant |
| Ipe | irritant, headache, asthma, vision effects |
| Iroko | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, boils, giddiness, HP |
| Jatoba | irritant |
| Katalox | irritant |
| Kingwood | irritant, sensitizer, pink eye |
| Lacewood | irritant |
| Mahogany, African | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) |
| Mahogany, Santos | irritant |
| Makore | irritant, nausea, headache, giddiness, nervous system and blood effects |
| Maple (Acer genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma; HP in spalted maple |
| Monkeypod | irritant |
| Mora | irritant |
| Oak (Quercus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma, NPC (rare) |
| Obeche | irritant, sensitizer, runny nose, sneezing, hives, asthma |
| Padauk (Pterocarpus genus) | irritant, sensitizer, nausea, asthma |
| Palm (Arecaceae family) | irritant, constitutional effects |
| Persimmon | irritant |
| Poplar | irritant, blisters, asthma, bronchitis |
| Purpleheart | irritant, sensitizer, nausea |
| Rosewood (Dalbergia genus) | irritant, sensitizer, asthma |
| Rosewood, East Indian | irritant, sensitizer |
| Sapele | irritant, sneezing |
| Silky Oak, Northern | irritant |
| Silky Oak, Southern | irritant, sap may cause blistering of skin, eyelid inflammation |
| Sissoo | irritant |
| Sucupira (Bowdichia nitida) | irritant |
| Tatajuba | irritant |
| Teak | irritant, sensitizer, rash, nausea, asthma, vision effects, pink eye, HP |
| Tigerwood | sensitizer |
| Tzalam | cold-like symptoms |
| Walnut, Black | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) |
| Wenge | irritant, sensitizer, splinters go septic, nervous system effects, abdominal cramps |
| Yellowheart | irritant |
| Zebrawood | sensitizer |
| Ziricote | cross reactions possible once sensitivity to other woods have developed |
