"Stephen" wrote in
news:UZqec.85174$Ig.69340@pd7tw2no:

Question about toxicity of wood, particularly "exotic" or at least
from the far corners of the world. What are typical problems,how is
the toxin transmitted, what are typical symptoms and is there need for
prevention more than just the typical common sense?

A partial list of transmissions could be
dust inhalation
dust in mucus membranes, e.g. eyes, nose
surface irritants picked up by touching with skin

and a partial list of preventions will always be a dust mask, good
dust collection, face shield,
but what else?

I picked up some pallet wood from who-knows-where but there are
several nice boards in it, some look like mahogany (not that nice),
others are reddish to pink, fine closed grain, and some of it is
yellow and softer and some is very coarse, very hard, heavy and grainy
(bitch'n splinters).

I haven't had any problems with it, but just to be on the safe side
... good advise is worth considering.
Thanks in advance.


Can't really provide any more info than to cite a couple of web sites
dealing with toxicity and wood..maybe you already know about them as they
have been passed around around numerous newsgroups?

http://www.mimf.com/archives/toxic.htm

http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/roche/...isc/wood.toxic

GJP