Allergies & Toxcity Charts

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Wildman

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Jan 12, 2008
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How many different wood allergies & toxicity charts do consult to find hazards with wood you are turning?

What is your favorite online chart (s) to go to?
 
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phillywood

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"Think your taking on an endless task! Do you know there are over 80 species of Oak in North America? Ebony is a general name for any dark heavy wood from diospyros genus, over 250 woods in that family. Some heavy dark black wood sold as Ebony not Ebony. Another fun wood with big family is Rosewood. Common Ash grows anywhere around the world.

That information is already available, check the "Links," "Reference & Education," section here. Also if you Google any species of wood, will find more information than normally need.

Can always post a question right here on any type wood, that interest you.

Information you seek found on this site by clicking on "SEARCH". Type in Name of Wood that interest you!

http://www.thewoodexplorer.com/"


You posted this comment on a thread I started trying to have other members help to gather inforamtions. I see that you came up with a qsn. yourself that was part of the aformentioned thread. I hope they can come back and help you more with this qsn.
 

Wildman

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Not trying to mess with you or information posted in your thread. I stopped reading and going to your thread several days ago.

http://www.gvwg.ca/docs/Articles/WoodToxicity.htm

I went to Ref & Ed link and found the above untitled document not much help. I already know the wood-explore link does not cover wood allergies and toxicity. I have already Googled my question and came up with a hodge-podge list of sites. This one of better sites found.

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/

Was hoping someone had a site with better information. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel just looking for preferred web sites.
 

ldb2000

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Laurence Harbor, NJ, USA.
Bottom line is ALL woods are toxic to one degree or another , and just because a wood is toxic for one person it might not be for millions of others . If you have a sensitivity to it you will get a reaction and no chart can tell you if you are or not . Also sensitivties can and do change so you might not be sensitive to it for years and then one day get a reaction . Even pine can be toxic if the particlas are small enough . That's what dust control is for .
 

Allenk

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Jun 2, 2009
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Childress, TX
I had one infection - from East Indian Rosewood - a friend gave me a chunk of it. The day after I turned it, he got an email telling him that the dust was toxic. I was sick for about 3 months. That was 2 or 3 years ago.
Now I have a fan blowing across my shoulder toward an exhaust fan in a louver style window. I've never had a problem since, except for a time or two with a clogged nose, when I forgot to turn on the exhaust fan before getting started turning.
I don't have a respirator, can't wear one, and I don't have a dc.
I just make sure the dust is moving away from me, and going outside. .
 
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Wildman

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I could not find any species of CHERRY Wood on an allergies & toxicity chart.
Well, finally got an answer that can live with concerning "Cherry wood." Bark and leaves can contain cyanide like substance dry Cherry wood should not be a problem for a woodturner. That is also true for someone wanting to use Cherry wood in a smoker or barbecue.

In my hunt found this link, do not eat the leaves from these trees!

Horse Nutrition
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_25.html

I have made several items with Cherry Wood. Have given away several Cherry Wood Pens, nobody has died.
 

ldb2000

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Reread the second article you mentioned in post #3 , in the chart Black cherry is clearly listed and it does have respiratory effects and can cause weezing . As I said ALL wood has a certain amount of toxicity associated with the dust and any dust that is 2 microns or smaller is bad for your lungs and can cause cold or flu like symptoms , wood or plastic .
 

Wildman

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I knew from looking on wood-explorer database there is a respiratory problem with Black Cherry. Got frustrated looking at database two there. The wood-explorer database not consistent with toxicity information. Think my NAS Field Guide to Trees Eastern Region more useful to me.

I saw Black Cherry on the "The Wood Database link. I also know some species of Cherry dust (Bolivian Cherry) and others will cause contact dermatitis.

I also came upon another chart which list "American Cherry."

http://www.dave-wilcox.com/Woodturning/toxics.aspx

I have been to several charts. Several of which will put you in the ballpark.

What got me started on quest for Cherry wood information? Was asked if all Cherry wood contained cyanide. After much searching offer an opinion which follows:

While pits and leaves may turn into cyanide if ingested, not sure sap or heart wood, have much cyanogenic glycosides. Apparently, no problem on wood that reached EMC. Contact dermatitis from dust could be a problem, wear proper dust protection.

In case, you wanted to know:

Cyanogenic glycosides

In this case, the aglycone contains a cyanide group. In many plants, these glycosides are stored in the vacuole but if the plant is attacked, they are released and become activated by enzymes in the cytoplasm. These remove the sugar part of the molecule and release toxic hydrogen cyanide. Storing them in inactive forms in the cytoplasm prevents them from damaging the plant under normal conditions.

An example of these is amygdalin from almonds. They can also be found in the fruits (and wilting leaves) of the rose family (including cherries, apples, plums, almonds, peaches, apricots, raspberries, and crabapples). Cassava, an important food plant in Africa and South America, contains cyanogenic glycosides and therefore has to be washed and ground under running water prior to consumption. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) expresses cyanogenic glycosides in its roots and thus is resistant to pests such as rootworms (Diabrotica spp.) that plague its cousin maize (Zea mays L.). It was once thought that cyanogenic glycosides might have anti-cancer properties, but this idea was disproven, see Amygdalin. A recent study may also show that increasing CO2 levels, caused by anthropogenic emissions, may result in much higher levels of cyanogenic glycoside production in Sorghum and Cassava plants, making them highly toxic and inconsumable. A doubling of CO2 concentration was found to double the concentration of cyanogenic glycosides in the leaves.
 
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jimm1

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Dec 30, 2006
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Thompson's Station, Tennessee, USA.
Well guys, I'm not going to answer and questions or inqueries here but, I thought I would pass this along:
I started breaking out REAL BAD on my arms. Blisters everywhere that turned into scabs that turned into scars. Went to my doctor and he referred me to his dermotolgist, who referered me to a specialist, who reffered me to a skin cancer guy. Tests, tests, tests...NOTHIN:befuddled:.
I went to my doctor again for a check up, arms still blistered and disgusting. In fact, at work, I wore long sleeves everyday because I was embarrased. Well, while at the doctors, he noticed my pen and I told him the story of me making pens from all kinds of exotic woods.
The next day he calls me with all sorts of information about toxicity in woods. I went in to see him again and he gave me some "sleeves" to where. I'm not sure what they are, but they are similar to nylon stockings.
I haven't had a blister since. YEAH :highfive:
 
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