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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Beech; Birch; Mahogany; Maple; Oak; Sapele; Walnut - Hardwoods. Redwood; Teak - Softwoods. Western Red Cedar

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 9210 - Hardwood; 9211 - Softwood; W102 - Western Red Cedar
IMIS Name History: W103 - All soft and hard woods, except Western Red Cedar - was discontinued in 4/1993

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: ZC9850000

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Wood dust: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits

Respirable dust not included for compliance, as per Standard Interpretation between NIOSH and OSHA, April 22, 1993.

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 15 mg/m3 TWA (Listed under Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated - Total dust)

Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 15 mg/m3 TWA (Listed under Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated - Total dust)

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 mg/m3 TWA (Listed under Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated - Total dust)
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV):

Western red cedar0.5 mg/m3 TWA*; Sensitizer; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen
All other species1 mg/m3TWA*
  Carcinogenicity
    Oak and beechAppendix A1 - Confirmed Human Carcinogen
    Birch, mahogany, teak, walnutAppendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcinogen
    All other wood dustsAppendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen
* Inhalable fraction, see Appendix C, paragraph A

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 1 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens

Health Factors

Carcinogenic Classification:
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [38 KB PDF, 8 pages]

National Toxicology Program (NTP): Known to be a human carcinogen [5 MB PDF, 413 pages]
Potential Symptoms: Irritation eyes; epistaxis (nosebleed); dermatitis; respiratory hypersensitivity; granulomatous pneumonitis; asthma, cough, wheezing, sinusitis; prolonged colds; nasal cancer

Health Effects: Nasal cancer (HE1); Respiratory sensitization---Asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HE9); Irritation- Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Marked (HE14)

Affected Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system

Notes:
  1. Minimizing dust levels at work sites will go a long way to decrease damage to employee health.
Date Last Revised: 03/18/2008

Literature Basis:
  • No Authors: Wood Dust [5 MB PDF, 413 pages]. Report on Carcinogens (latest edition); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program.
  • No Authors: Wood Dust and Formaldehyde [38 KB PDF, 8 pages]. IARC Monogr. Eval. Carcinog. Risks Hum. 62: 35-194.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter
    maximum volume: 960 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 2 L/min
    current analytical method: gravimetric
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2121)
    method classification: partially validated
    note: OSHA personnel must obtain tared sampling media from SLTC. DO NOT USE CYCLONE! Respirable dust not included for compliance purposes, as per Standard Interpretation between NIOSH and OSHA - April 22, 1993.

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Page last updated: 03/18/2007

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