Wood Dust and Allergies

There are many Wood Data bases on the internet, I found this one http://www.wood-database.com/ some time ago. It has grown to include a larger range of timbers as well a data base of allergy/reactions to wood and the dust. Yes you can get reactions to wood just by touching it even being in the same room or area. Wood decays and grows mould and mould spours float in the air with the slightest of a breeze.

It was suggested by a freind who suffers  asthma badly to do the search, after my 4 weeks of sinus and a 20hr visit to emergency for stomache and lower chest pain (short singular but 20mins apart). This warning does not discount that the number of viruses going round at present may have been the cause of my particular problem as stated by the emergency Dr.

It may have been brought on by the work I was doing with NSW scented Rosewood for about 2 months on and off. I know myself Rosewood is of  the Cinnamon family.

Edited 30th April It is for sure that I suffered a virus as Sue has contracted the same thing and a few others we know.

I always wear a mask sometimes even 10 minutes after stopping and when sweeping up, fine dust its the worst, I have a small 1hp dust extractor and a wet dry vac. Masks worn are a P2 and full double vented/filtered spray mask.

I am hoping a reaction isn't the case as I have a lot of Rosewood and love working with it.

When an apprentice an old fellow was having breathing difficulty he finaly went to see a Dr/specialist and was told he had by breathing in cement dust over the years caked his lungs with it. He had never worked with dry cement but had worked on concrete flooring and sweeping floors of his work area which had heavy vehicles and machines dragged over it. This broke down into fine particles, as we all used air for tools and to clean work with. A shot of compressed air it would sometimes billow the cement dust up apparently enough to cake the airways, lungs and indigestion system if swollowing while breathing etc.
It was after this we used to dampen down the floor enough while sweeping and changed the style of sweeping strokes if we couldn't.

Although my own father never after many years of working in mines in the UK suffered this fate Black Lung Disease

So please for your own safety and others who maybe about, use a mask for your own protection. Ask others to use one or move well away from the area until the dust settles.




Raymond Sanderson