The Dangers of Wood Dust
Compiled from "Is it Safe" by the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union, National Safety Construction Division (1993)
     
Wood dust is produced when timber is being worked such as in chipping, sawing, turning, drilling and sanding. Sanding is by far the most dangerous as the particles are so fine that a lot of masks do not entirely filter the particles, and, as a result, pass into our nasal cavities, sinuses and lungs.

Hardwoods in general such as beech, oak and mahogany and native hardwoods (eucalypts) generate fine particles of dust and this has a prime link with nasal cancers. Softwood timbers from coniferous trees such as pine, are less of a risk. Medium density fibreboard (MDF) poses another problem due to the bonding agent and should be treated the same as hardwood. A properly designed and maintained exhaust system is the best method of collecting the dust and is the ideal way. However if this is not practical, dust respirators should be used whenever you are exposed to dust, not only when you are actually processing your work. The following list of some timbers and the effects that they might have should be kept in the workshop.

  
   
NAMEPOSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARD
Alpine Ash
Eucalyptus delegatensis		Irritation to nose, eyes & throat,
dermatitis
Blackbean
Castanospermum australe		Irritation to nose, eyes & throat,
dermatitis
Blackwood
Acacia melanoxylon		Dermatitis, asthma, irritation of
nose & throat
Coolibah
Eucalyptus microtheca		Dermatitis
Crows Ash
Flindersia australia		Dermatitis
Douglas Fir (Oregon)
Pseudotsuga menziesii		Dermatitis, nasal cancer, irritation
to eyes & throat
Ebony
Diospyros spp.		Irritation to nose, eyes &
throat, dermatitis
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica		Nasal cancer, dermatitis
European Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens		Irritation to nose, eyes
& throat, dermatitis
European Walnut
Juglans regia		Nasal cancer, irritation to
nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis
European Elm
Ulmus spp.		Nasal cancer, irritation to
nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis
Grey Box
Eucalyptus microcarpa		Eczema, irritation to
nose & throat
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata		Irritation to nose & throat
Meranti
Shorea spp.		Irritation to nose, eyes &
throat, dermatitis
Messmate
Eucalyptus obliqua		Asthma, irritation to nose,
eyes & throat, dermatitis
Miva Mahogany
Dysoxylum muelleri		Congested lungs, irritation
to nose, eyes & throat, dermatitis
headache, nose bleeding & loss of appetite
Mountain Ash
Eucalyptus regnans		Irritation to nose, eyes & throat
Mulga
Acacia aneura		Headaches, irritation to nose
eyes & throat, vomiting
Port Orford Cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana		Dermatitis, violent ear ache
giddiness, stomach cramps, bronchitis, irritation of mucous membranes
Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens		Dermatitis & asthma
Rimu
Dacrydium cupressinum		Irritation to eyes & nose
South American Cedar
Cedrela spp.		Dermatitis, asthma, nasal cancer, irritation to nose & throat. Sap may cause blistering of skin and inflamation of eyelids
Spotted Gum
Eucalyptus maculata		Dermatitis
Teak
Tectona grandis		Dermatitis, conjunctivitis, oversensitivity to light, swelling of the scrotum, irritation to nose & throat, nausea
Western Red Cedar
Thuga plicata		Asthma, dermatitis, nasal cancer, nausea, rhinitis, nosebleeding, giddiness, stomach pain
White Cedar
Melia azedarach		Dermatitis
White Baltic
Picea abies		Asthma, skin irritation
White Cypress Pine
Callitris glauca		Dermatitis, swelling eyelids, asthma, irritation of nose & throat, nasal cancer, furuncilosis
Yellow Gum
Eucalyptus leucoxylon		Irritation of nose & throat