Why Wood Dust Is Harmful

With all the mess it creates, there’s no denying that wood dust can be a major nuisance in the shop. But did you know it can be hazardous to your health as well?

Frequent exposure to wood dust can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, leading to rashes, asthma, or loss of respiratory function (Health and Safety Executive). Of gravest concern is the strong and consistent association many studies have found between exposure to wood dust and cancer of the nasal cavity (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services).

Wood dust is known to be a human carcinogen…

On December 11, 2002, wood dust was added to the U.S. federal government's list of compounds known to cause cancer in humans. The report is issued every two years by the National Toxicology Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

–National Toxicology Program, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Report on Carcinogens, 10th Edition. December 2002.

And it's the finer dust particles—those 10 microns and smaller—that are the most hazardous. To put that size in perspective, consider that a human hair is about 100 microns thick, while airborne dust particles smaller than 20 microns are invisible to the naked eye.

How Dust Affects Your Body

Nose and Lungs

The trouble starts when your respiratory system must deal with large amounts of respirable dust (below 10 microns in size). Heavy exposure to this dust can overwhelm the lung's natural defenses and lead to inflammation and swelling of the airways, which cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, increased sputum and coughing, nose bleeds, sinus trouble, or bronchitis. It can also provoke an asthma attack or, in the case of western red cedar, cause asthma as an allergic reaction (Health and Safety Executive).
Over the last 50 years there have been many case studies of woodworkers who have reported cancer of the sinonasal cavities and paranasal sinuses, such as adenocarcinoma. Several studies have identified oak, beech, birch, mahogany, and walnut as the species of wood most often used by patients (International Agency for Research on Cancer).

Eyes and Skin

Wood dust can cause irritation to the eyes and skin. Impact to the eyes can include soreness, watering, and even conjunctivitis (i.e. pink eye). The skin may develop a rash or the more severe sensitization dermatitis. (Health and Safety Executive)

How To Reduce Exposure

To limit exposure, OSHA recommends installing collectors at the point where dust is produced such as the dust port of the woodworking machine. A respirator may also be worn but should be considered a short term solution for combating inhalation of harmful wood dust. (OSHA). For additional protection, select HEPA-rated dust collector filters that will trap the finest particles and prevent them from returning to your shop air.

• Health & Safety Executive, 2012. Toxic Woods. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis30.pdf.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016. Report on Carcinogens. Retrieved from https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/wooddust.pdf.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1995. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 62; Wood Dust and Formaldehyde. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493444/.
• OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. Wood Dust: Possible Solutions. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wooddust/solutions.html.