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MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
WOOD DUST
| SAWING, SANDING OR
MACHINING WOOD PRODUCTS CAN PRODUCE WOOD DUST WHICH CAN CAUSE A FLAMMABLE OR
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD. WOOD DUST MAY CAUSE LUNG, UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT, EYE AND
SKIN IRRAITATION,. SOME WOOD SPECIES MAY CAUSE DERMATITIS AND/OR RESPIRATORY
ALLERGIC EFFECTS. Wood Dust is not considered a potential cancer hazard by OSHA or the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The Intermational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies wood dust as a (group one) carcinogen to humans. This classification is based primarily on IARC's evaluation of increased risk in the occurrence of adenocarcinomas of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses associated with exposure to wood dust. IRAC did not find sufficient egvfident to associate cancers of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, lung, lymphatic and hematopoietic systems, stomach, colon or rectum with exposure to wood dust. |
| PHYSICAL DATA | HEALTH |
| Boiling Point | Not applicable | Exposure Limit | ACGIH TLV TWA - 5.0 mg/m3 | ||
| Specific Gravity | Variable. Depends on wood species and moisture content. | STEL (15 min) - 10 mg/m3 Softwood TWA - 1.0 mg/m3 |
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| Vapor Density | Not Applicable | Certain hardwoods such as beech and oak | |||
|
% Volatiles of Volume |
Not Applicable | OSHA PEL: | TWA - 5.0 mg/m3 | ||
| Melting Point | Not Applicable | STEL (15 min) - 10 mg/m3 All softwoods | |||
| Vapor Pressure | Not Applicable | and hardwoods except Western Red Cedar | |||
| Solubility in H20 ($ by wt.) | Insoluable | TWA - 2.5 mg/m3 | |||
| Evaporation Rate | Not Applicable | Skin & Eye Contact | Can cause eye irritation. Various species of wood dust can elicit allergic contact Dermatitis in sensitized individuals. | ||
| pH | Not Applicable | ||||
| Appearance & Odor | Light to Dark colored granular solid. Color and odor are dependent on wood species and tme since dust was generated. | Ingestion | Not applicable | ||
| Skin Absorption | Not known to occur | ||||
| Inhalation | May Cause: Nasal Dryness irritation & | ||||
| obstruction, coughing, wheezing, & sneezing. Sinusitis & prolong colds has also been reported. | |||||
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FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA |
Chronic Effects |
May Cause: Depending on species | |||
| Flash Point | Not applicable | Dermatitis on prolonged, repetitive contact; may cause respiratory | |||
| Autoignition Temperature | Variable. Typically 400-500 degrees F. | sensitization and/or irritation. | |||
| Prolonged exposure to wood dust has | |||||
| Explosive Limits in Air | 40 grams M3 (LEL) | been reported by some observers has been reported by some observers to be associated with nasal cancer. Wood dust is not listed as a not listed as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, ACGIH OR OSHA. | |||
| Extinguishing Media | Water, CO2, Sand | ||||
| Special Fire Fighting Procedures | Spray with water. Wet down wood dust to reduce the likelihood of ignition or dispersion of dust into the air. Remove burned or wet dust to open area after fire is extinguished. | ||||
| Unusual Fire & Explosion Hazard | Strong to severe explosion hazard if wood dust "cloud" contacts an ignition source | ||||