Appearance

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview Dust Hazard Occupational exposure to wood dust from any timber product has been classified hazardous according to the NOHSC. Inhalation of excessive amounts of dust may cause temporary upper respiratory irritation and / or congestion; and irritation of the eyes and skin. Repeated inhalation of wood dust increases the risk of nasal cancers and may increase the risk of lung fibrosis. Formaldehyde Formaldehyde gas may be released under some conditions particularly when the boards are heated and laminated or cut by laser cutting machines. However in well-ventilated storage areas and workplaces, the concentration of formaldehyde is unlikely to exceed the World Health Organisation Standard of 0.1ppm for the general environment and it will be well below the NOHSC Occupational Exposure Standard of 1.0ppm Wood dust may be produced from machining the product, and formaldehyde gas may be produced from heating processes Explosion Hazard Wood dust may ignite at temperatures greater than 204oC and high concentrations in air (>60mg/m3) may spontaneously explode Acute (short term) Health Effects Swallowed: Unlikely under normal conditions. Swallowing the dust may cause abdominal discomfort. Eye: Wood dust and the resin may be irritating to the eyes resulting in redness and watering. Skin: Skin contact with wood dust and the resin, may result in skin itching and redness and dermatitis in some people. Inhaled: Inhalation of wood dust and the resin may be irritating to the nose, throat and lungs.

Potential health effects

Repeated exposures over many years to uncontrolled dusts increase the risk of nasal cavity cancer. Inhalation of wood dust may also increase the risk of lung fibrosis (scarring). There are also increased risks of respiratory and skin sensitization from wood dust and resin in asthma and dermatitis respectively. Wood dust has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as group 1, carcinogen to humans Formaldehyde has been evaluated by the IARC as group 1, carcinogenic to humans and by the European Union (EU) as a Category 3 carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic)