Name
of TOXIC wood |
Comments |
Reference(s) |
Abale/esia
(Combetodendron macrocarpum) |
Has
a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. |
91 |
Alder
(Alnus spp.)
|
Hardwood
found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding. |
88 |
Almond
(Prunus dulcis)
|
Can
produce cyanide. |
55 |
Apricot
(Prunus armeniaca)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. |
54 |
Aspen;
trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) |
Hardwood
found to have some cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding.
Woodpiles of cut trembling aspen have been found to produce a toxic
leachate after the first winter thaw. The concentration produced varied
from weakly toxic to lethal in rainbow trout. |
88,
96 |
Balsam
fir
(Abies balsamea)
|
Leaves
and bark cause skin irritation. |
92 |
Beech
(Fagus spp.)
|
Leaves,
bark and dust are a sensitiser to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and
have carcinogenic effects. |
92,
97, 55 |
Birch
(Betula spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are respiratory sensitisers. Dust is carcinogenic to human white
blood cells, and to mice white blood cells at high concentrations. |
92,
97, 55 |
Black
locust
(Robinia pseudoacacia)
|
Leaves
and bark cause nausea and irritation to the eyes and skin. |
92 |
Blackwood
(Dalbergia melanoxylon)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Bog
wood |
This
is the generic term for wood that has been preserved in a peat bog and dug
up, it is very hard due to being partly fossilised. It is not suitable for
degu use due to its high tannin content, plus there is the potential for
the wood to be a harmful species such as yew. |
|
Boxwood
(Buxus spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Buddleia
(Buddleja spp)
|
Wood
contains antibacterial glycosides, which may cause bloating or diarrhoea
if ingested. |
167 |
Cashew
(Anacardium occidentale)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Cedar
(Cedrus spp.)
|
Found
to have a dermally toxic effect on mice and rabbits. |
93,
54, 55 |
Cherry
(Prunus spp.; Prunus
avium)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. Only
safe when dried thoroughly and all leaves/bark removed. |
54,
55 |
Citrus
(Citrus spp.)
|
All
citrus woods should be avoided including lemon and orange. |
55 |
Cocobolo
(Dalbergia spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Cypress/Bald
cypress (Cupressaceae; Taxodium spp.) |
Dust
is a respiratory sensitiser. |
92 |
Dahoma
(Piptadenia africana)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin irritants. |
92 |
Ebony
(Diospyros spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin irritants. |
92 |
Elang/Mukulungu
(Autranella congolensis)
|
Has
a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. |
91 |
Elder;
Elderberry
(Sambucus spp.)
|
Leaves,
twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain cyanogenic glycosides which
release cyanide when ingested. |
55 |
Elm
(Ulmus spp.)
|
Dust
is an eye and skin irritant. |
92 |
Eucalyptus
(Myrtaceae; Eucalyptus
spp.)
|
Causes toxic effects on rat
liver. |
100,
55 |
Fig/cape
fig
(Ficus spp.; Ficus
capensis)
|
Has
a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. |
91 |
Fir
(Abies spp.)
|
All
species have toxic effects. |
54 |
Goncalo
Alves
(Astronium spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Greenheart
(Chlorocardium rodiei)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Hemlock
(Tsuga spp.)
|
Dust
is a respiratory carcinogen. |
92 |
Horse
chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum)
|
All
parts are cytotoxic. |
54,
55 |
Iroko
(Milicia excelsa; Chlorophora
spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Juniper
(Juniperus spp.)
|
Found
to have a dermally toxic effect on mice and rabbits. |
93,
55 |
Kapok
(Ceiba pentandra)
|
Has
a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. |
91 |
Laurel
(Laurus spp.)
|
|
55 |
Magnolia
(Magnolia spp.)
|
Exhibited
a toxic effect on mice. |
90 |
Mahogany
(Swietenia spp.)
|
Dust
is a skin and respiratory sensitiser. |
92 |
Mansonia
(Sterculiacea altissima)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin irritants and cause nausea. |
92 |
Maple
(Acer spp.)
|
Dust
is a respiratory sensitiser. |
92,
55 |
Mimosa
(Mimosa spp.)
|
Leaves
and bark cause nausea. |
92 |
Mopane/Mopani
(Colophospermum mopane) |
Bark
and seeds have cytotoxic properties. |
168 |
Myrtle
(Myrtaceae)
|
Leaves,
bark and dust are respiratory sensitisers. |
92 |
Nectarine
(Prunus persica)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. |
54 |
Oak;
Cork
(Quercus spp.; Quercus
suber)
|
Leaves,
bark and dust are eye and skin sensitisers, dust is a suspected
carcinogen. Acorns are toxic. |
92,
55 |
Obeche/Abachi
(Triplochiton scleroxylon)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Okuhaba/Yungu
(Drypetes gossweileri)
|
Has
a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. |
91 |
Oleander
(Nerium oleander)
|
Wood,
dust leaves and bark cause nausea and are direct toxins causing cardiac
problems. |
92 |
Olive
(Olea europaea)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Opepe/Kussia
(Nauclea diderrichii)
|
Dust
is a respiratory sensitiser. |
92 |
Padauk
(Pterocarpus spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory sensitisers. |
92 |
Pau
Ferro
(Caesalpinia ferra; Machaerium
scleroxylum Tul.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
Peach
(Prunus persica)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. |
54 |
Peroba
Rosa
(Aspidosperma spp.)
|
Wood
and dust cause nausea and are respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Pine
(fresh); pinecones
(Pinus spp.)
|
Softwood
found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used UNTREATED as bedding.
**Please note that when using pine shavings, ensure they have been kiln
dried.** Pine dust is carcinogenic to both humans and mice, causing white
blood cell death. Pinecones are toxic. |
88,
97, 55,
102 |
Plum
(Prunus spp.)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. |
54 |
Prune
(Prunus spp.)
|
Wood
contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. |
54 |
Purpleheart
(Peltogyne spp.)
|
Wood
and dust cause nausea. |
92 |
Quebracho
(Schinopsis spp.; Aspidosperma
spp.; Jodina spp.)
|
Leaves,
bark and dust cause nausea and are respiratory irritants. Dust is a
suspected carcinogen. |
92 |
Redwood
(Cupressaceae; Pinaceae)
|
Dust
is an eye, skin and respiratory sensitiser and suspected carcinogen. |
92,
55 |
Rosewoods
(Dalbergia spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Satinwood
(Chloroxylon swietenia;
Zantoxylum flavum)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Sassafras
(Sassafras spp.)
|
Dust
is a respiratory sensitiser and suspected carcinogen. Dust, wood, leaves
and bark cause nausea and are directly toxic. |
92 |
Sequoia
(Sequoia spp.)
|
Dust
is a respiratory irritant. |
92 |
Snakewood
(Colubrina spp.; Brosimum
guianense)
|
Wood
and dust are respiratory irritants. |
92 |
Spruce
(Picea spp.)
|
Softwood
found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding. Wood and
dust are respiratory sensitisers. |
88,
92 |
Teak
(Tectona spp.)
|
Dust
is an eye, skin and respiratory sensitiser. |
92 |
Walnut
(Juglans spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92,
55 |
Wenge
(Millettia laurentii)
|
Wood
and dust are eye, skin and respiratory sensitisers. |
92 |
Willow
(Salix spp.)
|
Wood,
dust, leaves and bark cause nausea and are respiratory sensitisers. |
92 |
Yew
(Taxus spp.)
|
Dust
is an eye and skin irritant. Dust and wood cause nausea and are directly
toxic causing cardiac problems. |
92,
54 |
Yunnan
(Magnolia yuyuanensis)
|
Although
toxic effects have not been definitively established, it has been found
that the extract of this wood actually inhibits progression of
disease in hepatic liver injury mice. |
94 |
Zebrawood
(Microberlinia spp.)
|
Wood
and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. |
92 |
------------------------ |
-------------------------------------------------- |
---------------- |
MDF/reconstituted
wood/man made wood/plywood/fibreboard |
Often
man made woods contain phenol-formaldehyde resins, used to glue the wood fibres
together. These are particularly dangerous in enclosed, humid areas. They
also cause dermal irritation on contact. |
89,
101, 55 |
Environmental
arsenic |
Arsenic
is found naturally in the environment, some areas containing higher levels
than others. Arsenic which leeches into water systems may be taken up by
surrounding trees. This may be of small concern in some parts of the USA
where it can be found contained in tree branches and even sawdust. |
95 |