TOXIC WOODS

By Robert Woodcock, R.N., B.S.N., C.E.N.





REACTION             SITE        SOURCE        INCIDENCE



I - irritant         S - skin    D - dust      R - rare

S - sensitizer       E - eyes    W - wood      C - common

C - nasopharyngeal   R - resp.   LB-leaves,    U - unknown

    cancer           C - cardiac    bark

P - pneumonitis,     N - nausea,

    alveolotis           malaise

    (hypersensitivity

    pneumonia)

DT - direct toxin



WOOD            REACTION    SITE     POTENCY   SOURCE   INCIDENCE



Bald Cypress    S           R        +         D        R

Balsam Fir      S           E,S      +         LB       C

Beech           S,C         E,S,R    ++        LB,D     C

Birch           S           R        ++        W,D      C

Black Locust    I,N         E,S      +++       LB       C

Blackwood       S           E,S      ++        D,W      C

Boxwood         S           E,S      ++        D,W      C

Cashew          S           E,S      +         D,W      R

Cocobolo        I,S         E,S,R    +++       D,W      C

Dahoma          I           E,S      ++        D,W      C

Ebony           I,S         E,S      ++        D,W      C

Elm             I           E,S      +         D        R

Goncalo Aves    S           E,S      ++        D,W      R

Greenheart      S           E,S      +++       D,W      C

  (Surinam)

Hemlock         C           R        ?         D        U

Iroko           I,S,P       E,S,R    +++       D,W      C

Mahogany        S,P         S,R      +         D        U

  (Swietenia)     

Mansonia        I,S         E,S      +++       D,W      C 

                N                    +         D     

Maple           S,P         R        +++       D        C

  (C. Corticale mold)

Mimosa          N                    ?         LB       U

Myrtle          S           R        ++        LB,D     C

Oak             S           E,S      ++        LB,D     R

                C                    ?         D        U

Obeche          I,S         E,S,R    +++       D,W      C

Oleander        DT          N,C      ++++      D,W,LB   C

Olivewood       I,S         E,S,R    +++       D,W      C

Opepe           S           R        +         D        R

Padauk          S           E,S,N    +         D,W      R

Pau Ferro       S           E,S      +         D,W      R

Peroba Rosa     I           R,N      ++        D,W      U

Purpleheart                 N        ++        D,W      C

Quebracho       I           R,N      ++        D,LB     C

                C                    ?         D        U

Redwood         S,P         R,E,S    ++        D        R

                C                    ?         D        U

Rosewoods       I,S         R,E,S    ++++      D,W      C

Satinwood       I           R,E,S    +++       D,W      C

Sassafras       S           R        +         D        R

                DT          N        +         D,W,LB   R

                C                    ?         D        U

Sequoia         I           R        +         D        R

Snakewood       I           R        ++        D,W      R

Spruce          S           R        +         D,W      R

Walnut, Black   S           E,S      ++        D,S      C

Wenge           S           R,E,S    ++        D,W      C

Willow          S           R,N      +         D,W,LB   U

W. Red Cedar    S           R        +++       D,LB     C

Teak            S,P         E,S,R    ++        D        C

Yew             I           E,S      ++        D        C

                DT          N,C      ++++      D,W      C

Zebrawood       S           E,S      ++        D,W      R





REFERENCES:



Woods Toxic to Man, author unknown



Woods, B., Calnan, C.D.  "Toxic Woods."  Br. Journal of

Dermatology. 9513, 1976, 1-97.



ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 1983.



Lampe, K., McAnn, M.  AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious

Plants, AMA, 1985.



Poisondex, Micromedix Inc. 1990.





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