The heartwood of the tree is what is used in woodworking and crafting, and it gets its purple color from the high levels of natural pigments it contains. The scientific name of the tree that produces purple heart wood is Peltogyne, and it is found primarily in Central and South America. This risk for finished wood projects is greatly lessened (but not eliminated) with the application of a food-safe finish.Purple heart wood is a type of hardwood that is prized for its distinctive and striking deep purple color. But what a great number of woods do have the potential to do is cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. (This particular health issue-and the unhealthy buildup of such dusts in small woodworking or hobbyist shops-has been dealt with at length on Bill Pentz’ website.)Ī common question: is this wood safe to use as a plate/bowl/cutting board/etc.? Despite the very long list of woods below, very few woods are actually toxic in and of themselves. However, all woods produce fine dust when worked, which in turn can damage your lungs and cause a number of other adverse health reactions. This chart simply lists specific woods that can aggravate symptoms through allergic reactions, or woods that are outright toxic in and of themselves. Also, you may notice two wood types that sound like they’re related, such as Black Cherry ( Prunus genus) and Brazilian Cherry ( Hymenaea genus), but they are actually quite unrelated.Īll inhaled wood dust is hazardous to your long-term health. Many times, a wood in a particular genus will share similar allergic compounds with other related woods, resulting in cross-reactions.) For example, Cocobolo is in the Dalbergia genus, and is also closely related to other woods such as Kingwood, Tulipwood, Honduran Rosewood, etc. (The wood may be very obscure or unknown.) One helpful thing to do if you have confirmed that you’re allergic to a specific species of wood, is to check for related species (listed at the end of each wood profile page). It simply means that adverse reactions have not been reported as of yet. Just because any given wood is not listed on the chart, does not mean that it is completely safe to use. When viewing the chart, please keep the follow in mind: The information on this chart has been compiled from many sources, with references given at the bottom. If this subject has been known and reported as “ascertained fact” since ancient history, how much more ought we to take heed in modern times, considering that we have so many more well-developed means of communication and testing? A turned yew bowl by Steve Earis Wood Toxicity and Allergen Chartīelow you’ll find a chart of various wood species, along with their reported effects and properties. Looking at the above quotation, (taken from a writing nearly two thousand years old), ought to bring-at the very least-a small bit of respect and attention to the matter of safety as it pertains to wood toxicity. –Pliny the Elder, from Naturalis Historia, ca. It is an ascertained fact that travellers’ vessels, made in Gaul of this wood, for the purpose of holding wine, have caused the death of those who used them.” “Not to omit any one of them, the yew is similar to these other trees in general appearance.
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