All: Some interesting stuff on exotics and lung problems, mostly. Hope it is not too long to post. KDM

Mr. Masters,

Thank you for your request for information. Your inquiry to the CDC was forwarded to this office within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH is a Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries.

See – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about.html. Unfortunately NIOSH does not

have information on the health effects from exposure to exotic woods.

In addition, a search was performed of the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) PubMed database. Below are the results of that search which contain 20 citations relating to your request.

The full text of published articles contained in the PubMed database are

not available from NIOSH. However, you should be able to obtain these

articles through scientific, university, medical, or major public libraries; or your librarian can obtain them through an interlibrary

loan.

Additional information about PubMed can be found at the following web

address:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

: Psychiatr Prax. 2003 May;30(4):223-4.

[Hawaiian baby rose wood: case report of an argyreia nervosa induced toxic psychosis]

[Article in German]

Gopel C, Maras A, Schmidt MH.

Zentralinstitut fur Seelische Gesundheit, Klinik fur Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, J 5. [email protected]

An increase of intoxications in persons using psychoactive plants and mushrooms can be observed. Mainly adolescents are experimenting with this group of plants for its hallucinogenic effects and easy and cheap availability. A case of a toxic psychosis with hallucinations, disturbances of orientation and psychomotoric agitation and anxiety after the intake of Hawaiian baby wood rose seed, an exotic ergotalkaloid containing plant often misused for its hallucinogenic effect is reported. Other drug-induced psychosis (e.g. LSD-psychosis), schizophrenic episodes or anticholinergic drug-induced intoxications have to be excluded. Regarding the increasing spreading of the misuse of psychoactive plants in Europe and North America intoxications with severe fatal sequelae have to be expected for the future. The knowledge of the clinical picture is important for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 12768530 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2001 Jun;12(3):326-30.

[Causal factors of decline disease in exotic pine (Pinus taeda and P.

elliottii)

plantations]

[Article in Chinese]

Shu Q, Yang G, Zou Y, Tang J, Huang C.

Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036. [email protected]

Investigation on the cause of the decline of exotic pine plantations in Anhui Province was carried out from 1995 to 2000. The results showed that the cause might develop from the interaction of three or more sets of factors. The first group of factors called as predisposing factors were high and low temperature and rainfall, poor soil fertility, and excessive soil bulk density, soil moisture, and of stand density; the second group of factors called as inciting factors were insect defoliators, damaging diseases of needles, late spring frost, severe drought, and excessive resin-tapping, and the third group of factors called as contributing factors were several biotic agents such as shoot blight infected by Sphaeropsis sapinea, decay wood and root rot by fungi, and bark beetles and wood borers.

PMID: 11758405 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Dermatology. 2000;200(1):59-62.

Tropical-wood-induced bullous erythema multiforme.

Shimizu S, Chen KR, Pratchyapruit WO, Shimizu H.

Department of Dermatology, Ogikubo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. [email protected]

We report a case of bullous erythema multiforme caused by an exotic wood, pao ferro (Machaerium scleroxylon). A 25-year-old female, a luthier (guitar

maker)

who often handles a variety of woods, developed bullous erythema multiforme. A patch test confirmed a positive reaction to one of the exotic woods, pao ferro. A subsequent accidental short contact with pao ferro 5 months following the first incidence induced a similar exudative erythema. Exotic woods such as pao ferro should be added to the list of contact allergens that can induce bullous erythema multiforme. Copyright (R) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 10681619 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

4: Neurochirurgie. 1997;43(2):61-3.

[Epidemiology of cancers of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses]

[Article in French]

Schwaab G, Julieron M, Janot F.

Departement de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale et ORL, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif.

Cancers of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses represent about 2-3% of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, in France. In 20% of these cases, these cancers develop in the ethmoid region, 80% of them being adenocarcinomas. Among the distinctive features of adenocarcinomas, epidemiological data should be emphasized. Indeed, ethmoid adenocarcinomas are mostly linked to wood exposure, mainly hard and exotic woods. However, in synthetic wood, binding agents and glues may also be involved as cocarcinogens. These cancers are often underdeclared by medical professionals leading to possible prejudice to the patient and his entitled beneficiaries. Therefore a detailed professional history of all patients presenting with a cancer of the nasal cavities and/or paranasal sinuses should be undertaken to avoid such a situation.

PMID: 9296046 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

5: Am J Contact Dermat. 1997 Jun;8(2):114-7.

Contact dermatitis to multiple exotic woods.

Rackett SC, Zug KA.

Section of Dermatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.

Occupational contact dermatitis to individual wood species from foreign countries, such as Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America, has been described. This report concerns the case of a domestic woodworker who developed allergic contact dermatitis shortly after beginning to work with multiple exotic woods. Patch testing with domestic and exotic wood fresh sawdust samples, 1% and 10% in petrolatum, yielded strong positive reactions to six exotic

woods:

zericote, pao ferro, cocobolo, becote, macassar ebony, and padauk. Later testing confirmed sensitivity to the allergenic quinonoid constituents in pao ferro (R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione), cocobolo (obtusaquinone), and macassar ebony (macassar quinone).

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 9153334 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

6: Annu Rev Phytopathol. 1997;35:153-66.

The pinewood nematode: regulation and mitigation.

Dwinell LD.

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. [email protected]

In North America, the native pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, kills exotic pines. When inadvertently introduced to Japan and other Asian countries, PWN became a destructive pest of pines. The PWN has been intercepted in pine shipments from North America to Europe, where there is concern that it may also kill pines and other conifers. To protect their forests from the PWN and other pests, the European Union and other countries now regulate the import of all coniferous chips, sawn wood, and logs. Several species of Bursaphelenchus have a phoretic relationship with Monochamus spp., which carry them to recently felled logs and dead or dying conifers, particularly pines. As a result, species of Monochamus, Bursaphelenchus, or both may be found in chips, unseasoned lumber, and logs. During the past decade, procedures to disinfest transported unprocessed wood have been investigated. These mitigation measures include prevention, host selection, and treatment by fumigation, irradiation, chemical dips, and elevated temperatures.

PMID: 15012519 [PubMed]

7: J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 1995 Mar-Apr;5(2):113-4.

Occupational asthma and contact urticaria caused by mukali wood dust (Aningeria robusta).

Garces Sotillos MM, Blanco Carmona JG, Juste Picon S, Rodriguez Gaston P, Perez Gimenez R, Alonso Gil L.

Section of Allergy, Hospital General Yague, Burgos, Spain.

Mukali (Aningeria robusta) is an exotic wood from the Sapotaceae family. We describe the case of a 31-year-old woman who developed bronchial asthma and contact urticaria after occupational exposure to mukali. A positive immediate response was observed in the skin prick test, bronchial challenge and the rubbing test performed with a mukali wood extract. We suggest that an IgE-mediated immunological mechanism could explain these findings. Our case report identifies another wood dust capable of inducing occupational asthma.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 7655701 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

8: Presse Med. 1990 May 26;19(21):1011.

[Pulmonary silicosis related to working with exotic woods]

[Article in French]

Thoreux PH, Delaval P, Leprince V, Ramee MP, Bouget J, Chretien J.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

Letter

PMID: 2141147 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

9: Am J Ind Med. 1990;18(5):541-5.

Case report of occupational asthma due to palisander wood dust and bronchoprovocation challenge by inhalation of pure wood dust from a capsule.

Godnic-Cvar J, Gomzi M.

Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, University of Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

Occupational asthma due to exposure to exotic wood dust and to rosewood (Dalbergia family) has been reported earlier. This paper deals with a case of occupational asthma due to palisander wood dust (Dalbergia nigra) in a joiner who sanded and polished parts of musical instruments. The causal relationship was confirmed by a positive skin reaction to an allergenic preparation and a positive nonimmediate, late asthmatic reaction after inhalation challenge testing with pure palisander wood dust. A method of bronchoprovocation testing with an occupational allergen is presented. It proved to be a practical and advantageous method in its simplicity and single-blind application of placebo. It should, however, be used with great caution, in well-chosen cases in whom nonspecific bronchial reactivity is proved or recorded to be in normal ranges.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 2244627 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

10: Allerg Immunol (Paris). 1989 Nov;21(9):338-41.

[Domestic and occupational pneumo-allergens among workers with tropical wood in Abidjan (Ivory Coast)]

[Article in French]

Pigearias B, Dembele K, Bonny JS, Bogui P, Lonsdorfer J.

Laboratoire de Physiologie et Service, Faculte de Medecine C.H.U., Cote-d’Ivoire.

The authors realized an epidemiologic research by skin test method in a furniture factory in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). 19 wood workers underwent these

tests: their professional risk to wood dust exposure was over 13 years. The results show the importance of allergenic work atmosphere and mainly the high allergic potential of five exotic woods currently used. This article proposes an approach of the specific immunological pathways through a prospective allergological enquiry conducted at furniture factory in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

PMID: 2560375 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

11: Vestn Dermatol Venerol. 1989;(6):27-30.

[Occupational phytodermatoses and their prevention]

[Article in Russian]

Selisskii GD, Stoianov BG, Alchangian LV, Tits VA.

The growing employment of the population in agriculture and wide use of plants in industry lead to an increase in the incidence rate of phytodermatoses. The strongest allergens are Ambrosia and Artemisia pollen, as well as exotic trees wood. Measures for the prevention of occupational phytodermatoses are an integral part of the complex program for the improvement of specialized medical care in the rural regions. Patients suffering from occupational phytodermatoses should be subjected to regular check-ups.

PMID: 2531512 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

12: Rev Mal Respir. 1988;5(1):71-3.

[Occupational asthma due to exotic wood: Nesorgordonia papaverifera (danta or kotibe)]

[Article in French]

Gozalo Reques F, Pelta Fernandez R.

Section d’Allergie, Hopital Provincial, Madrid, Espagne.

The authors report the first description of occupational asthma induced by sensitisation to danta or kotibe wood in an atopic, smoking, cabinet maker presenting with non-specific bronchial hyper-reactivity. The asthma used to appear several hours after finishing work and was exclusively on those days when he was handling danta wood. After exclusion of the offending allergen for several weeks a delayed asthmatic reaction was seen seven hours after a provocation test with the incriminated wood dust. The bronchial reaction was accompanied by cutaneous symptoms also. An immediate positive cutaneous reaction to the wood dust extract was seen and the cutaneous sensitivity could be passively transferred. These results, as well as the efficacy of treatment with disodium cromoglycate, suggest that an IgE mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of this occupational asthma.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 3368638 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

13: Cutis. 1986 Feb;37(2):101-2, 104.

Erythema multiforme-like eruptions due to exotic woods and ordinary

plants: Part

I.

Fisher AA.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 2937616 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

14: Rev Pneumol Clin. 1985;41(1):39-46.

[Value of realistic exposure tests in the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to exotic woods]

[Article in French]

Colas M, Grosclaude M, Balland S, Perrin-Fayolle M.

Respiratory pathology related to the increased use of exotic woods has become much more extensive in recent years. The recognition of occupational asthma due to these woods is easy when the history is sufficiently striking. By contrast, the diagnosis may be much more difficult because of frequent inadequacy in classical allergological and immunological tests. This leads to the need for more extensive special investigations. Realistic tests are the most valuable. In the present report, the authors describe the results of such tests in 10 cases of occupational asthma due to exotic woods. They compared history (past, clinical manifestations), results of pulmonary function tests, allergological studies (skin tests and laboratory) and realistic exposure tests. They describe the principles, value, results, limitations and disadvantages.

PMID: 4001745 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

15: J R Army Med Corps. 1983 Jun;129(2):117.

Trichobezoar–an unusual cause of acute appendicitis.

Attard GJ.

Various exotic foreign bodies have been found in the lumen of acutely inflamed appendices. The list includes parasites, pips, chips of bone, metal and wood. In the following case the cause of obstruction was a trichobezoar.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 6620237 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

16: G Ital Med Lav. 1982 Jul-Sep;4(4-5):211-4.

[Allergic risk factors in wood working]

[Article in Italian]

Fasani F, Pisati A, La Manna A.

After an account on wood working schedule and on the main and most noxious chemical constituents of these materials, we consider 55 subjects working in touch with wood, on whom allergological researches have been performed through skin tests and bronchial provocation tests. The sensitivity to wood dust have been found in 10 cases (18.2%), in particular towards woods of obece, lanan, mahogany and samba. Skin tests have revealed 1 positivity to balsam of Peru and 3 to isocyanate (TDI). The bronchial provocation tests have pointed out 1 positive reaction to Mansonia’s and ramin’s wood and 2 to TDI. The results suggest that the respiratory manifestations due to wood’s dust on subjects professionally exposed, have to be prevalently imputed to exotic woods, even if the irritant factors assume a not minor importance. It is discussed the possible role of isocyanates in this pathology.

PMID: 7185637 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

17: J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol. 1982;26(3):322-8.

Hygienic characteristics of work conditions in the manufacture of planer shavings (veneers) from exotic species of wood.

Ekizova LI, Peshkov VP, Koteleva LI.

Results of investigation of the hygienic conditions of work in the manufacture of planer shavings (veneers) from exotic species of wood are reported. The manufacture is characterized by an unfavourable complex of environmental factors; noise exceeding the maximum admissible levels, high levels of relative humidity and temperature of the air and a complex of chemical compounds whose concentrations sometimes exceed MAC. A list of sanitary-hygienic and technological measures promoting and improvement of the working conditions in the manufacture of planer shavings (veneers) from exotic species of wood is presented.

PMID: 7142693 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

18: Ann Ist Super Sanita. 1981;17(2):189-97.

[Identification of the dusts from exotic woods]

[Article in Italian]

Marini Bettolo G, Paoletti A, Nicoletti M.

PMID: 7332165 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

19: Clin Allergy. 1973 Sep;3(3):307-10.

Respiratory allergy to exotic wood dust.

Eaton KK.

PMID: 4778076 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

20: CA Cancer J Clin. 1973 Jul-Aug;23(4):266-9.

[Gravimetric measurements of the dust while sanding exotic plywoods]

[Article in German]

Otto J.

PMID: 4200108 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

—–Original Message—–

From: Merkin, Carol A. On Behalf Of NCEH Public Inquiries – Info

Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 11:30 AM

To: NIOSH Cincinnati EID Technical Information

Subject: FW: dsFW: exotic woods

 

 

 

—–Original Message—–

From: CDC Public Inquiry

Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 11:08 AM

To: NCEH Public Inquiries – Info

Subject: dsFW: exotic woods

 

 

I am forwarding this inquiry to you for your response.

Thanks

DS

Public Inquiries

—–Original Message—–

From: CDC Public Inquiry

Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2005 11:44 AM

To: CDC Public Inquiry

Subject: Public Inquiry for *Other (Please describe below.)

A new public inquiry has been received from the CDC Internet for the above referenced subject. The following is the information as entered by the user: Field NameData provided Date / Time posted: 8/6/2005 11:44:18 AM User Name: Kenneth Duke Masters

Title: None

Organization Name: None

Address: 2114-A Grant Street Berkeley California 94703-1518

Telephone: 510 644 3717

EMail: [email protected]

Subject: Hazards of exotic lumber

Comments: Hello: As a hobbyiest woodworker I come in contact with exotic woods(ebony, mahgony, rosewood etc.) from around the world. Some times there are fungas like splotches or other possibly pathological debris from machineing the wood. Can you provide me or point me to (search was not availing) dependable information regarding any disease resulting from contact with exotic woods or the dust from working on them ? Thank you, KDM

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