Revised December 10, 2007 .
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Have you been wondering if you need to use a dust mask while scrolling? How about wearing a long sleeve shirt - even in the heat of summer. Perhaps this list of health hazards associated with specific species of woods will help in making that decision. OR if you have been experiencing any of these symptoms and have also been cutting the species of wood associated with that symptom, this may help to solve that particular health problem. 

You also might want to check this page out for a list of potentially toxic woods.

This is by no means a Complete listing of all the possible health hazards you may run into as a result of your hobby. If you know of any other species of woods that may cause a problem, or if you know of any other symptoms that need to be added to this list, please let us know.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Wood Species

Origin

Symptoms
A top of page  

Abura

 Tropical Africa Nausea, eye irritation, giddiness
A-Dead-Finish Australia Wood splinter and thorns cause skin irritation, dust causes dermatitis
Afara Central and West Africa Splinters cause skin inflammation
African Boxwood South Africa Irritation to nose and throat, headache, asthma fainting, shortness of breath, erythema
African Mahogany West Africa Skin irritation, dermatitis, nasal cancer
African Walnut Africa Irritation to mucous membranes, nasal cancer, irritation of alimentary tract
Afrormosia Tropical West Africa Dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma
Agba Angola, Zaire, Nigeria Dermatitis
Albizzia South East Asia, Pacific Australia Irritation to nose, eyes, alimentary tract, nausea, dermatitis
Alder Europe, North America Dermatitis
Alpine Ash Australia Irritation to nose, eyes and throat, dermatitis
American Mahogany Central America, northern South America, Mexico, plantations in Fiji Skin irritation, giddiness, vomiting, furunculosis
B top of page  
Bibu Indian Sub continent Sap causes blistering of skin, eye irritation
Black Bean Australia Dermatitis, itchiness, irritation of mucous membranes
Black Cherry USA, Canada, Europe Wheezing, giddiness
Blackwood Australia, plantations in South Africa Dermatitis, asthma, irritation to nose and throat
Brazilwood Northern South America Headache, nausea, painful swelling of arms, visual disturbances
Brigalow Australia Dermatitis
C top of page  
Calophyllum South East Asia, Pacific, New Caledonia, Australia, New Guinea Dermatitis, kidney damage, irritation to nose and throat
Caroba Central and South America, planted in most tropical areas Dermatitis
Cocuswood Central America Dermatitis
Cocobolo Central America, Mexico Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, nausea
Coolibah Australia Bark and wood dust may cause skin irritation
Crow's Ash Australia, New Guinea Dermatitis
D top of page  
Dahoma Africa Dermatitis, coughing, sneezing, nose bleeding
Difundu Africa Dermatitis
Djohar South East Asia, India, Australia Skin discoloration, eye irritation, keratitis
Douglas Fir (Oregon) USA, Canada, plantations in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe Dermatitis, nasal cancer, irritation to eyes and throat
E top of page  
East Indian Satinwood India, Pakistan, Ceylon Dermatitis, headache, swelling of scrotum, irritation of mucous membranes
Ebony Africa, Malasia, Ceylon, South East Asia Skin inflammation, acute dermatitis, sneezing, conjunctivitis
European Beech Europe Nasal cancer, dermatitis
European Boxwood Southern Europe, Asia Minor Dermatitis, irritation to nose, eyes and throat
European Elm Europe Dermatitis, irritation of mucous membranes, cancer
European Walnut Europe, Asia Minor Dermatitis, nasal cancer
Eyum Africa Irritation of nose and throat, dermatitis
F - G top of page  
Gaboon Equatorial Africa Itchy skin, irritation to eyes and nose
Greenheart Northern South America Headache, wheezing, shortness of breath, disturbance of vision, diarrhea, erythematic
Grey Box Australia Eczema, irritation of mucous membranes
Guarea Tropical West Africa Dermatitis, asthma, nausea, disturbance of vision, headache
H - I top of page  
Indian Rosewood South East Asia, India, New Guinea Dermatitis
Ipe Northern South America Dermatitis, shortness of breath, headache, disturbance of vision
Iroko Tropical West and East Africa Dermatitis, furunculosis, oedema of eyelids, respiratory difficulties, giddiness
Ivorywood (South American) Tropical South America Dermatitis
J - K - L top of page  
Jacareuba Central and South America Dermatitis, loss of appetite, kidney damage, fainting, insomnia
Jarrah Australia Irritation to nose, throat and eyes
Keruing South East Asia Dermatitis
Kwila (merbau) Australia, New Guinea, Pacific Islands, South East Asia Dermatitis, rhinitis
Lignum Vitae West Indies, Central and northern South America Dermatitis
Limba Tropical Africa Splinters may cause festering sores or skin irritation
Lingue Africa Irritation to eyes, nose and throat
M top of page  
Mansonia Tropical West Africa Dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, nose bleeding, sneezing, giddiness, asthma
Marking Nut Australia, India Sap and wood dust may cause skin lesions, eye irritation, nose bleeding
Massaranduba Northern South America Dermatitis
Meranti (red, yellow, white) South East Asia Dermatitis, Irritation to nose, throat and eyes
Messmate Australia, plantation in Africa, Europe and South America Dermatitis, asthma, sneezing,
Milky Mangrove Australia, South East Asia, Pacific Islands Sap may cause irritation to eyes, even temporary blindness, headache, burning of throat, blistering of skin
Miva Mahogany Australia Congestion of lungs, eye inflammation, irritation of mucous membranes, headache, nose bleed, loss of appetite
Molompangady Malagasy Dermatitis, sores
Mountain Ash Australia, plantations in South America, Africa, Europe Irritation to nose, throat and eyes, dermatitis
Muhuhu Africa Dermatitis
Mulga Australia Wood contains a virulent poisonous principle, used for spear heads by aboriginals. Dust may cause irritation to mucous membranes, headache, vomiting
Muninga Africa Bronchitis, asthma, dermatitis
Myrtle Beech Australia Irritation to mucous membranes
N top of page  
Needlewood India, South East Asia Bark causes skin irritation
New Zealand White Pine New Zealand Dermatitis, irritation to nose, throat
Nkassa Africa Headache, giddiness, vomiting, disorders of bowels & stomach, irritation to nose & throat
Northern Silky Oak Australia Green timber may cause dermatitis
O top of page  
Oak (European and Japanese) Europe, Japan, China Nasal cancer, dermatitis, sneezing
Obeche West Africa Asthma, sneezing, congestion of lungs
Odoum Africa Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat
P top of page  
Padauk Africa, New Guinea, South East Asia, Andaman Islands Asthma, dermatitis
Palisandre Wood South America Dermatitis
Parinari Central and northern South America, Africa, South East Asia, Pacific, New Guinea Dermatitis
Pau Amarello South America Dermatitis
Phoenician Juniper Central and southern Europe, northern Africa, south east Russia Nausea, headache, skin irritation
Poison Walnut Australia Bark very irritating to skin. Dust may cause breathing problems, vomiting, giddiness, dermatitis
Poplar North America, Europe, East Asia Asthma, dermatitis, bronchitis
Port Oxford Cedar USA Dermatitis
Q - R top of page  
Ramin South East Asia, New Guinea, Pacific Islands Sharp fibres cause skin irritation & infection
Red Cedar Australia, South East Asia, New Guinea, India, plantaions in Central America Violent headache, giddiness, stomach cramps, asthma, bronchitis, dermatitis, irritation of mucous membranes
Red Lacewood Northern South America Dermatitis
Red Peroba South America Nausea, sweating, asthma, cramps, drowsiness, fainting, irritation of mucous membranes, dermatitis
Red Siris Australia Dermatitis, nose bleed, conjunctivitis, giddiness
Redwood North America Dermatitis, asthma
Rengas South East Asia, New Guinea, Malagasy Bark, sap and wood dust irritating to skin, causing dermatitis, blistering, chronic ulcers
Rimu New Zealand Irritation to nose, eyes
Rose Butternut Australia Dermatitis, conjunctivitis
Rosewood South East Asia, New Guinea Dermatitis, asthma
S top of page  
Saffron-Heart Australia, New Guinea Splinters cause skin Infection. Dust causes dermatitis, congestion of lungs
Sapale Africa Skin irritation, sneezing
Satine South America Excessive salivation, feeling of thirst, nausea
South American Cedar South America Dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat, nasal cancer, asthma
Southern Silky Oak Australia, New Caledonia Sap may cause blistering of skin, inflammation of eyelids. Dust may cause dermatitis
Spotted Gum Australia, plantations in South America, Arica and Europe Dermatitis
Spruce North America, Japan, Europe Irritation to nose and throat
Stinging Tree Australia, Asia Stinging hairs on leaves and bark have intensely irritating effect on skin, may cause paralysis, breathing problems, severe pain
Sweetgum Southern North America Dermatitis
Sumac Asia, North America, South America, Europe Bark causes blisters, dust may cause dermatitis
T top of page  
Talh Northern Africa Dermatitis, coughing, irritation to mucous membranes
Taun South East Asia, New Guinea