Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 31 to 45 of 60
  1. #31
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
    Age
    66
    Posts
    12,881

    Default

    That is interesting, I have also noticed something similar with allergies.
    I don't have a noticeable reaction to citrus but it makes my skin more sensitive to stuff I do have reactions to.
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #32
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas, USA
    Posts
    3,070

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers View Post
    That is interesting, I have also noticed something similar with allergies.
    I don't have a noticeable reaction to citrus but it makes my skin more sensitive to stuff I do have reactions to.
    It's called immunological priming and it works like vaccination. Most vaccines are composed of the antigen of interest plus an adjuvant that provokes the immune response. The antigen is the target but the immune system must be revved up if you will by the adjuvant to provoke a strong antigen directed immune response.
    Alcohol and other things, for some just stress will do, set you up for having an allergic response to an antigen like wood dust that under normal circumstances you would not have a reaction to. The reactive glues such as CA and epoxies can induce a similar response both to the glue components and other allergens that you might be exposed to at around the same time.

  4. #33
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tasmaniac
    Posts
    1,470

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post

    I don't use a lot of MDF (mainly for jigs etc) since I suffered a reaction to it back in 2002 while making the insides of a desk. What was surprising was that most of this was done whilst working outside. I was using a basic mask but not all the time. The problem with something like MDF is that the chemicals in MFD can pass straight through most masks.

    The reaction itself started out with sinus irritation (runny nose) which grew to flu like symptoms (blocked and swollen sinuses, sore throat, aches and pains, but no fever) that lasted for about a week and after that I couldn't smell anything for about 6 weeks. The loss of the sense of smell severely affected the sense of taste with beer tasting especially bad. Fruit tasted like veges and VV all very confusing.

    After that for many years I only needed a faint whiff of MDF dust to start feeling a reaction (sinus irritation) to it so I stayed away from using it.
    Yep!, MDF is the "PITS" for me too. Only stuff I've ever used that makes me cough up blood. A foundry I once worked in used it for their patterns. No dust extraction, no rules, when the blood coughing started I quit.
    Preposterously I still use the stuff from time to time, but with a good mask and extraction system. Would not use it in my Webber BBQ though.

  5. #34
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    The Whitsundays
    Posts
    145

    Default Red bean - Miva Mahogany

    Quote Originally Posted by centron-sg1 View Post
    I note Australian Miva Mahogany has listed symptoms including Congestion of lungs, eye inflammation, irritation of mucous membranes, headache, nose bleed, loss of appetite.
    As much as I like this timber, it is pretty nasty to work. I sanded a slab outdoors, with no DC and had a slight nose bleed as a result. I still have some slabs of it, although I won't work it until my DC is good enough.

    I have been told that some timbers are worse to work than others because of the shape of the dust particles that come off it. I am doubtful if this is true, perhaps someone with more knowledge can answer this? I would have thought it was the chemicals that are part of the each particular species?

    Cheers

    The Beryl Bloke
    Equipment er.... Projects I own

    Lathes - Sherline 4410 CNC
    Mills - Deckel FP2LB, Hardinge TM-UM, Sherline 2000 CNC.

  6. #35
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Theberylbloke View Post
    .
    .
    .
    I have been told that some timbers are worse to work than others because of the shape of the dust particles that come off it. I am doubtful if this is true, perhaps someone with more knowledge can answer this? I would have thought it was the chemicals that are part of the each particular species?
    In my reading on wood dust haven't run across particle shape as a factor. In the US Annual Report on Cancer, shape is not listed as a factor. The main factor seems to be be particle size which determines how far the particle penetrate into the respiratory system and the surface area which determines the amount of chemicals that can be leached from the dust. Shape will also affect surface ares but I have not seen anything on this. What seems to determine size (and probably shape) is the nature of the wood, and type of wood working activity. e.g. provided the machinery/tools are operating correctly, fine sanding of dry wood makes more smaller dust than chopping green wood.

  7. #36
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    geelong
    Posts
    359

    Default blackwood

    Have heard that Black-wood is one of the problem timbers-mostly about it's structure. If you gather some black-wood dust from sanding- you will notice that it clings to itself in an abnormal manor. Apparently if you look at the fibers microscopically they are barbed and readily hook into your lungs much like asbestos ( which is actually chemically inert as far as biology is concerned, but the effects-well not good.)

  8. #37
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth W.A
    Posts
    720

    Default

    When I started out in furniture making (late 1980's) Used mdf quite a lot, don't remember using masks much and had no dust extraction it used to give me sore throat for a couple of days.
    Still use it occasionally but am much more careful.

    I developed lymphoma cancer in the 1990's which was undiagnosed for almost a decade.Whether it was related to the mdf use I don't know but could have been.

    Quote Originally Posted by artful bodger View Post
    Yep!, MDF is the "PITS" for me too. Only stuff I've ever used that makes me cough up blood. A foundry I once worked in used it for their patterns. No dust extraction, no rules, when the blood coughing started I quit.
    Preposterously I still use the stuff from time to time, but with a good mask and extraction system. Would not use it in my Webber BBQ though.

  9. #38
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,809

    Default A useful reference book

    I can't see that anyone has posted this so here goes: A useful reference book in regard to this subject is by Morris Lake "Australian trees and shrubs - common and scientific names and toxic properties" Second edition 2006 published by the International Wood Collectors Society. Can be difficult to obtain but is a useful reference book. I do not know how much it overlaps with UBeaut's list.

    BAD WOODS - Timber health hazards-cover-jpgBAD WOODS - Timber health hazards-isbn-blurry-jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images

  10. #39
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    roma
    Posts
    4

    Default

    i was told boonaree sawdust is extremely carcinogenic-does anyone have any info on that?

  11. #40
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Warragul Vic
    Posts
    1,093

    Post Australian Trees Shrubs & Toxic woods

    Quote Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas View Post
    I can't see that anyone has posted this so here goes: A useful reference book in regard to this subject is by Morris Lake "Australian trees and shrubs - common and scientific names and toxic properties" Second edition 2006 published by the International Wood Collectors Society. Can be difficult to obtain but is a useful reference book. I do not know how much it overlaps with UBeaut's list.

    BAD WOODS - Timber health hazards-cover-jpgBAD WOODS - Timber health hazards-isbn-blurry-jpg
    Hi Xanthorrhoeas & interested members:

    Together with other co-authors (Jon Arno, Roy Tandy and Jim Flynn) I produced this list of toxic woods originally for th benefit of IWCS members, who are mostly woodworkers. Similar compilations of species were made in various publications, World of Wood (journal) and a book (A Guide to Useful Woods of the World) and later for an Australian Wood Magazine (Australian Wood Review). Most recently it was reviewed for this recent IWCS Publication (shown above), edited and compiled by Morris Lake.

    The list of problematic woods includes many Australian and imported species most commonly used by woodworkers worldwide. It provides useful advice about what to do when handling woods (not just just dust inhalation) and cautions working with old and fungal infected woods as well.

    This publication may still be available through Morris and the IWCS.

    Eugene D

  12. #41
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Townsville, Nth Qld
    Posts
    4,236

    Default

    Neil, what about Western Red Cedar and the Plicatic Acid in the sawdust? Have a look here and here

    regards,

    Dengy

  13. #42
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    While the book is useful it is important to realise that ALL wood dust between ~10 and 0.1 microns is considered carcinogenic. The size of the dust appears to be more significant than the species as the various authorities who arrived at this conclusion some years ago do not distinguish between any species in terms of toxicity they just discuss the size of the wood dust.

  14. #43
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Hi Rob
    I know this is an old post- we took down a eucalyptus tree in New Zealand end of Sept 2106. it was cut up in our yard and large logs removed. We pulched the remainder for the garden. There was a heap of saw dust lying around from the sawing which I distributed onto the flour beds in quite windy conditions. Since then I have struggled with hives, itches skin rashes that are not just contact dermatitis but spring up anywhere they choose. Have had a dry cough for weeks now which before was more just a feeling like I had swallowed dust. Nothing seems to help - went on prednisone - off that now and onto a detox regime....any ideas??

  15. #44
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,809

    Default

    Hi Eugene,

    Have (two years later! just seen this) please accept my apologies for the misattribution. I should have said it was edited by Morris Lake, not authored by him.

    David

  16. #45
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,809

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by renateochse View Post
    Hi Rob
    ... we took down a eucalyptus tree in New Zealand end of Sept 2106. There was a heap of saw dust lying around from the sawing which I distributed ... in quite windy conditions. Since then I have struggled with hives, itches skin rashes that are not just contact dermatitis but spring up anywhere they choose. Have had a dry cough for weeks now which before was more just a feeling like I had swallowed dust. Nothing seems to help - went on prednisone - off that now and onto a detox regime....any ideas??
    Hi and sorry to hear about your condition. I am a retired botanist, not a medico (PhD not Bachelor of medicine and Bachelor of surgery). Do you know what species of eucalypt it was? One of the commonest exported eucalypts was Tasmanian Blue Gum. A quick look at the book (incorrectly) referenced by me above shows that numerous different eucalypt species are capable of causing the type of conditions you are suffering from and that E. globulus is recorded as causing dermatitis while other species are recorded as causing irritation of the nose and throat, eczema, asthma and sneezing etc.

    I am not sure if that information helps you but it may help your medicos get in touch with someone who has some more specific medical advice how to alleviate your conditions.

    One other possibility is that, if the tree was dead or the sawdust allowed to lie on the ground for any time it could have been invaded by fungus. Fungal spores are notoriously nasty when inhaled. That could mean it was not the timber itself that has caused your problems.

    Personally I doubt the "detox" stuff ( I have never seen scientific proof for it) but I guess anything is worth a try when desperate. You need medical advice not a botanist's advice but my suggestion is that may be better to continue treating the symptoms medically until your body heals itself. Unfortunately, some people never overcome an allergic reaction to timber dust (if it is that and not fungal spores) but, if they absolutely avoid future contact their symptoms eventually improve.

    Good luck and best wishes for a recovery. I and other forums members will be keen to hear if you improve.

    David

Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Electrical hazards (not what you think)
    By Reno RSS Feed in forum PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, HEATING, COOLING, etc
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 25th August 2009, 03:40 PM
  2. Wiring Hazards
    By Reno RSS Feed in forum PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, HEATING, COOLING, etc
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 18th July 2009, 12:40 AM
  3. turning wood hazards
    By set in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 24th April 2004, 11:48 PM
  4. hazards of cutting mdf
    By John G in forum HAND TOOLS - POWERED
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 24th February 2003, 04:27 PM
  5. Timber Health Hazards
    By ubeaut in forum TIMBER
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 9th January 2000, 02:21 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •