Here's a list that I found of wood toxicity after my first reaction. I definitely had a pretty severe reaction---blistering, redness, swelling, and ITCHING!
I think the ++ means it is very potent. It says wood and dust cause a reaction, and that it is common. I have a friend who's an arborist that says the same thing happens to him, but with less itching. I forgot to mention that I also had really bad staining of the skin. I looked like I had dirty hands and arms for weeks afterwards. NO exaggeration. 2-3 weeks.
List of Woods Toxic to Man
The following chart appeared in American Woodturner, June 1990,
Originally posted to rec.woodworking by Bruce Taylor
[email protected]
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Wood Reaction 1) Site 1) Potency Source 1) Incidence 1)
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 C
Mahogany S,P S,R + D U
Mansonia I,S E,S +++ W,D C
Mansonia N + D
Maple (Spalted) S,P R +++ D C
Mimosa N ? LB U
Myrtle S R ++ LB,D C
Oak S E,S ++ LB,D R
Oak C ? D 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 R,N ++ LB,D C
Quebracho C ? D U
Redwood S,P E,S,R ++ D R
Redwood C ? D U
Rosewoods I,S E,S,R ++++ W,D U
Satinwood I E,S,R +++ W,D C
Sassafras S R + D C
Sassafras DT N + D,W,LB R
Sassafras C ? D 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
West. Red Cedar S R +++ D,LB C
Teak S, P E,S,R ++ D C
Yew I E,S ++ D C
Yew DT N,C ++++ W,D C
Zebrawood S E,S ++ W,D
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1)
Reaction: Site: Source: Incidence:
I - irritant S - skin D - dust R - rare
S - sensitizer E - eyes LB - leaves,bark C - common
C - nasopharyngeal cancer R - respiratory W - wood U - uncommon
P - pheumonitis, alveolitis C - cardiac
DT - direct toxin
N - nausea, malaise
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Reference:
1. Woods Toxic to Man, author unknown
2. Woods, B., Calnan, C.D., "Toxic Woods." Br. Journal of Dermatology 1976
3. ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 1983
4. Lame, K., McAnn, M., AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, AMA 1985
5. Poisondex, Micromedix Inc. 1990
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