Dust

[raysouth]

As many leatherworkers also deal with various wood projects, some of the information that follows may be of benefit. The information is contained in a publication published by The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications, by Terry Porter, and filled with excellent descriptions of many wood types that you may use or handle. Nice reference to have around.

Handling of wood and dust produced can produce various allergic reactions and following is a bit of that information. There are wonderful charts in the book that cover this subject.

Many woods are "sensitizers" and produce effects that may include rhinitis (constantly running nose), bronchial asthma, bronchitis, allergic dermatitis, alveolitis allergia (hypersensitivity pneumonia), ODTS (organic dust toxic syndrome), and conjunctivitis. Nasal cancers are rare but can occur, especially to those working a longtime in furniture industry. Cancer of the upper respiratory tract can be caused by many kinds of wood dust, especially beech and oak.

Some woods, such as yew can act as sensitizers. When first used. there is no reaction, but after repeated exposure the user may become sensitized so that each contact with the wood produces an almost immediate allergic reaction. Normally this is irreversible, the only logical outcome is to avoid using that particular wood. Additional sensitizers include beech, sequoia or redwood, mahogany, teak and willow.

If you are allergic to aspirin, be cautious of willow and birch as they can have a similar effect.

Micro-organisms in fungus and bark can induce bronchial asthma, rhinitis and allergic dermatitis. In North America, maple bark strippers' disease is due, apparently, to the mould Cryptostroma corticale that grows between the sapwood and the bark of birch and maple trees. This can cause severe respiratory allergies.

Some people are more susceptible than others, and if you are a smoker the rise of illness from inhalation of wood dust is greatly increased.

Subtropical and tropical woods are noted for allergic effects include western red cedar, sequoia/redwood, obeche, cocobolo and mansinia. Woods from temperate climes tend to produce a less extreme effect; those that should be treated with caution include walnut, larch, beech, oak, yew and pine.

From the charts I selected two woods I have here in my shop and learned the following;

COCOBOLLO: Sensitizer and irritant to skin, nose and throat; conjunctivitis, nausea, bronchial asthma, wheezing, chest tightness, headache. Toxic parts are dust and wood.

EBONY: Irritant; dermatitis, conjuctivitis, sneezing; possibly a skin sensitizer. Toxic parts are dust and wood.

I no longer am exposed to wood dust but have also found, by personal experience, that dust from leather has caused minor problems for me. Solved by simply using paper face mask when trimming, skiving leather and especially, if sanding edges.

Hope that some of you find the information useful and if working with wood this book would be a superb reference in your shop.

Helmut aka; Ray

[Pounder]

Helmut

Thanks for the info., something you don't think about when sanding that piece of leather. Off to buy some paper masks today.

[Wishful]

Good info - thanks.

[DoubleC]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought any of that, thanks. cheryl