Woodworking and cancer...

Newton

Newton

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
We all know that certain woods could cause allergic reactions - like cocobolo for instance. Now reading the "safety" papers on my new planer/thicknesser I can read ;
"Risk of injury by inhaling wood dust: Dust of certain timber (e.g oak, beech,ash) can cause cancer when inhaled. Use a suitable dust collector"

Now, after running some oak boards (non pool related) my paranoia on dust has jacked up a couple of notches and I was just wondering - do any one know about other species which is in the dangerous category ?

N.
 
Tony_in_MD said:
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/

Do it right, protect your self with a dust collecting system. BTW wood dust is only part of it, the organic solvents, glues, sealers and finishes all cause problems too.
Click to expand...

Great site. Just did a sanity check and "Ash" is stated as "irritating" - no words about cancer. Oak is mentioned to give NPC - but that is rare...

I'm pretty serious about my dust system, but every now and then "I just going to...." and don't use my mask....

So for any one "just doing a job now and then" without any dust control - be aware.

N
 
Anything foreign in our lungs on a regular, long term basis, IMO, can and will cause lung diseases including cancer. My Dad was a master craftsman in wood for most of his life, and now has COPD, and possible lung cancer.....he never smoked a day in his life...they are still figuring out if it's that at this time. He worked in shops with no dust collection, and sprayed contact adhesive every day with no masks etc. and cutting plywood and MDF among other stuff that had large amounts of chemicals in them. Him and his co-workers would joke about that if a carpenter farts...all that would come out is wood dust. A lot of his co-workers died of cancer....Not as funny now.
Never be too cautious, IMO.
Dave
 
Dave38 said:
Anything foreign in our lungs on a regular, long term basis, IMO, can and will cause lung diseases including cancer. My Dad was a master craftsman in wood for most of his life, and now has COPD, and possible lung cancer.....he never smoked a day in his life...they are still figuring out if it's that at this time. He worked in shops with no dust collection, and sprayed contact adhesive every day with no masks etc. and cutting plywood and MDF among other stuff that had large amounts of chemicals in them. Him and his co-workers would joke about that if a carpenter farts...all that would come out is wood dust. A lot of his co-workers died of cancer....Not as funny now.
Never be too cautious, IMO.
Dave
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Sorry to hear that Dave. Have however been through that stuff with 5 family members now, most of them tobacco related. However, my grand father was a carpenter and I'm now wondering if his trade was the deal... Anyway, I guess we should be careful, not just for allergic reactions but also the serious stuff as well....
N
 
Newton said:
Great site. Just did a sanity check and "Ash" is stated as "irritating" - no words about cancer. Oak is mentioned to give NPC - but that is rare...

I'm pretty serious about my dust system, but every now and then "I just going to...." and don't use my mask....

So for any one "just doing a job now and then" without any dust control - be aware.

N
Click to expand...

That's how my tinnitus(ringing in ears) and hearing loss started... "oh, I don't need them(ear protectors) for this, it won't take long".......

You don't get it back..
 
pescadoman said:
That's how my tinnitus(ringing in ears) and hearing loss started... "oh, I don't need them(ear protectors) for this, it won't take long".......

You don't get it back..
Click to expand...

I'll bet we have a sizable tinnitus club here. Machinery and human ears seem to be born enemies.

My ears are ringing like a bell right now.

I'm very careful now, but I wasn't always.

Robin Snyder
 
carguy said:
I'll bet we have a sizable tinnitus club here. Machinery and human ears seem to be born enemies.

My ears are ringing like a bell right now.

I'm very careful now, but I wasn't always.

Robin Snyder
Click to expand...
Put me in the club...have had constant ringing for about 1-1/2 yrs now. I just got hearing aids couple months ago and they seemed to help lower it for a bit, but now I hear it even with them too. Sucks.
Dave
 
Dave38 said:
Put me in the club...have had constant ringing for about 1-1/2 yrs now. I just got hearing aids couple months ago and they seemed to help lower it for a bit, but now I hear it even with them too. Sucks.
Dave
Click to expand...

Me too, rang since I was 16, dumb young kid didn't need ear protection in the garage, I sure was tough, I showed them...... not,
 
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