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