I had a BAD reaction to Rosewood when I put a piece of that on my lathe.
Where ever there was a shaving, I had a reaction on my skin. Unfortunately,
this didn't show up until that night \ next day, so I went merrily along my
way with shavings all over my neck, arms, chest (shavings went down my
shirt). I looked it up on that toxicity web page and I see it is one of the
most potent and common reactions, so at least I felt like it wasn't too
abnormal. It was so bad though, I had to get the steroids and everything to
get it under control. Of course, I wasn't finished with the piece, so I had
to figure out something. I bundled up completely and used rubber gloves and
duct tape my wrist areas (between gloves and sweat shirt) and put a mask and
covered over my face, neck and head. It worked to some extent, but I ended
up get a nice rash on my temple area ... it happened when I would reach up
and take off my safety glasses (had dust on my finger tips).

With that said - I learned that I can't work with Rosewood. I also like to
use long sleeves when I turn things just so I don't get a lot of shavings on
my arms where it is really exposed. Paranoid maybe ... but once bitten,
twice shy.

Darren
"Stephen" wrote in message
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.

--

Stephen