Langboard OSB (Oriented Strand Board)

Appearance/Odor

OSB is produced with interlocking wood fibers having a slightly aromatic resinous odor and natural wood color. The wood component of these products may consist of alder, aspen, beech, birch, hickory, maple, oak, pecan, pine, poplar, western red cedar and/or other mixed hardwood species. Primary Health Hazard: The primary health hazard posed by this product is thought to be due to exposure to wood dust.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Ingestion: N/A X Skin: Dust X Inhalation: Dust X Eyes: Dust

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Wood dust may irritate eyes and aggravate preexisting respiratory conditions or allergies.

Health hazards

Dust of some species may cause allergic contact dermatitis and respiratory sensitization with prolonged, repetitive contact or exposure to elevated dust levels. Prolonged exposure to wood dust has been reported by some to be associated with nasal cancer. Carcinogenicity Listing: X NTP: Known Human Carcinogen X IARC Monographs: Wood Dust, Group 1 X OSHA Regulated: Not listed NTP: According to its Tenth Report on Carcinogens, NTP states, “Wood dust is known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans. An association between wood dust exposure and cancer of the nose has been observed in many case reports, cohort studies, and case control studies that specifically addressed nasal cancer. Strong and consistent associations with cancer of the nasal cavities and Para Nasal sinuses were observed both in studies of people whose occupations are associated with wood dust exposure and in studies that directly estimated wood dust exposure.” IARC – Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans; sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity. Classification is based on studies showing an association between occupational exposure to wood dust and adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. There is insufficient evidence of an association between occupational exposure to wood dust and cancers of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, lung, lymphatic and hematopoetic systems, stomach, colon or rectum.