Toxic Woods

Abstract

Eighty-three cases of dermatitis caused by wood or sawdust have been seen at St John's Hospital for Dieases of the Skin, London, in the last 20 years. The clinical details and results of patch tests are reported. The literature on dermatitis, mucosal irritation, asthma and other toxic effects of woods of some 300 botanical species is reviewed at length, with an index of scientific, trade and vernacular names, chemical formulae of the known sensitizing substances, and a table of the 28 toxic woods most often encountered. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and prophylaxis are discussed.

Analysis of dust exposure during chainsaw forest operations

“…The irritant effects of wood dust are well documented (Senear 1933, Woods & Calnan 1976, ILO 1983, Innocenti 2008. Respiratory, nasal and eye symptoms are the most common effects reported by woodworkers (Holness et al 1985, Li et al 1990, Pisaniello et al 1991, Shamssain 1992, Liou et al 1996.…”

Gonystylus bancanus (Miq.) Baill. [MAK Value Documentation, 2002]

“…The potential allergenic effects of the wood on the skin have been described in only few and not always adequately documented reports (Hausen 1970, Woods andCalnan 1976). A positive result after 48 and 96 hours in a patch test with damp and dry wood dust was obtained for one patient (Beck and Roberts 1981).…”

“…Further patch tests carried out on this patient 5 months later with a 10 % ethanolic extract of ramin and with 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (5 % and 10 % in petrolatum) yielded negative results as did the tests with wood dust on 20 control persons (Bruynzeel and de Haan 1987). In a third case it was not possible to exclude the possibility that the wood was contaminated with polymerized epoxy resin (Woods and Calnan 1976). Two other cases of occupational skin disorders caused by ramin have been reported to the Swiss Accident Insurance Association (SUVA) (Hartmann and Schlegel 1980).…”

Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl., Quercus robur L., Quercus rubra L. and other Quercus spp. [MAK Value Documentation, 2002]

“…Two cases of skin disorders after contact with oak wood dust (no other details) are included in an analysis of 165 cases reported to the Swiss Accident Insurance Association (SUVA) (Hartmann and Schlegel 1980). In 2 other publications, a total of 4 cases with positive results in the patch test are listed without details of the relevance of the test results (Bleumink andNater 1974, Woods andCalnan 1976). The data in these publications are, however, not sufficient to demonstrate an allergenic effect of oak wood.…”