DIMENSIONAL LUMBER - CEDAR

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: This product presents limited hazards in its solid form. Sawing, sanding or otherwise machining this product can produce wood dust, which may present a flammability and/or explosion hazard. Exposure to wood dust may cause eye, nose and throat irritation.

Health hazards

ACUTE INHALATION: The primary health hazard posed from machining this product is thought to be due to inhaling wood dust. Inhaling wood dust may cause dryness, irritation, obstruction and may aggravate preexisting respiratory condition or allergies. Coughing, wheezing, sneezing, sinusitis and prolonged colds have also been reported. EYE CONTACT: Wood dusts from this product can cause mechanical irritation. SKIN CONTACT: Various species of wood dust may evoke allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. INGESTION: Not applicable under normal conditions. CHRONIC Wood Dust, depending on species, may cause dermatitis, respiratory sensitization and/or irritation upon prolonged, repetitive exposure. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies wood dust as a carcinogen to Humans (Group 1), and The National Toxicology Program (NTP) classifies wood dust as known to be a human carcinogen. These classifications are primarily based on studies that evaluated the increased risk in occurrences of adenocarcimas of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses associated with exposure to hardwood dust. Sufficient evidence was not found to associate cancers of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, lung, lymphatic and hemotopoietic systems, stomach, colon or rectum with exposure to wood dust. Prolonged eye exposure may cause reversible corneal damage. Sources: Volume 62 Wood Dust IARC Monograph, 1995; 10th Biennial Report on Carcinogens, NTP, 2002.