Wood Dust Material Safety Data Sheet: 309 North Washington El Dorado, AR. 71730 (870) 862-3414
Wood Dust Material Safety Data Sheet: 309 North Washington El Dorado, AR. 71730 (870) 862-3414
Wood Dust Material Safety Data Sheet: 309 North Washington El Dorado, AR. 71730 (870) 862-3414
PHYSICAL DATA
Exposure Limit.....................................
ACGIH TLV: Western Red Cedar
TWA - 5.0 mg/m3;
STEL - (15 min) - 10.0 mg/m3 (softwood)
TWA - 1.0 mg/m3 (certain hardwoods such as beech and oak)
OSHA PEL: (See important footnote 1 below concerning OSHA PEL’s for
wood dust)........................................TWA - 15.0 mg/m3 (total dust); 5.0 mg/m3
(respirable fraction).
Skin and Eye Contact…..............Wood dust can cause eye irritation. Various
species of wood dust can elicit allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized
individuals.
Ingestion........................................... Not applicable
Skin Absorption...............................Not Known to Occur
Inhalation…………………………. May cause nasal dryness, irritation and
obstruction. Coughing, wheezing and sneezing; sinusitis and prolonged colds
have also been reported.
Chronic Effects……………………Wood dust, depending on species, may cause
dermatitis. By prolonged, repetitive contact; may cause respiratory sensitization
and/or irritation. NTP includes wood dust in the Annual Report on Carcinogens.
IARC classifies wood dust a carcinogen to humans (Group 1). This classification
is based primarily on IARC’s evaluation of increased risk in the occurrence of
adenocarcinomas of the nasal cavities and Para nasal sinuses associated with
exposure to wood dust. IARC did not find sufficient evidence to associate hypo
pharynx, lung, lymphatic and hematopoletic systems, stomach, colon or rectum
with exposure to wood dust. The American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has categorized wood dust (certain hardwoods)
as a confirmed human carcinogen.
1 In AFL-CIO V. OSHA 965 F. 2d 962 (11th Cir. 1992), the court overturned OSHA’s 1989 Air Contaminants Rule,
including the specific PELs for wood dust that OSHA had established at that time . THE 1989 PELs WERE: TWA - 5.0
mg/m3; STEL (15 MIN.) - 10.0 mg/m3 (ALL SOFT AND HARD WOODS, EXCEPT WESTERN RED CEDAR):
WESTERN RED CEDAR: TWA - 2.5 mg/m3.
Wood dust is now officially regulated as an organic dust under the Particulate Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) or Inert
or Nuisance Dust categories at PELs noted under Health Effects Information section of this MSDS. However, A NUMBER
OF STATES HAVE INCORPORATED PROVISIONS OF THE 1989 STANDARD IN THEIR STATE PLANS.
ADDITIONALLY, OSHA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT MAY CITECOMPANIES UNDER THE OSH ACT GENERAL
DUTY CLAUSE UNDER APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE 1989 PELs.
REACTIVITY DATA
REGULATORY INFORMATION