exotic wood allergy???

Re: exotic wood allergy???

John Lucas

>Of that group I would suspect the Cocobolo. I hear more people complain about this wood than the others.

Re: exotic wood allergy???

Andi Wolfe

>You should see an allergist. With your throat swelling as part of the reaction, you should also consider carrying an epi-pen. Wood dust allergies should be taken very seriously. I agree with John, that Cocobolo is the most likely candidate for giving you trouble.

Re: exotic wood allergy??? *LINK*

RevDoug

>Fred,

Allergies can manifest in many ways. In your case, it very likely is a contact allergy, which may indeed manifest in hives, etc.

Dust collection is a must when sanding. Another great ides is to use two fans, one behind to blow past you and onto the lathe. The other fan should be behind the fan pulling air away from the lathe. You should come out of the shop dust free this way.

With the throat swelling, I would say that you surely inhaled a bit. The fans will help with that issue, but I would suggest that you at least wear a dust mask. If the problem persists, get a respirator, or better yet, a power visor.

Hope this helps in some way. We may get some great responses on this one that will further the knowledge of all of us.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug


Wood Spun Round

Re: exotic wood allergy???

Duane

>Try making or buying one of those hoods that fit over the work piece and hooked to a dust colecter. Also wear thick clothing and gloves and wash (in the my country it's spelled WARSH),take a shower to warsh off the dust. Not a bath be cause the wood dust particles containing the poison float and stick on your body when you get out. Good luck. Duane

Allergy story

John Crissman

>About six months after I got my lathe I explained to my wife the *danger* of turning cocobolo and told her I would be trying some of this dangerous wood that evening. Then I asked if she would come and check on me periodically. (I had turned some prior and had not been effected.) So when I heard her coming to check on my I positioned myself prone on the floor.

Imagine my surprise when she didn't think the joke was very funny.

So what did I learn from this little exercise?

Always put good insulation in that doghouse. : )

John

Re: exotic wood allergy???

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>Good Lord, with that soup of materials in the mix its a wonder you're standing! As others have said, the exotics can give one a fit. Be glad you weren't using makore, too. Even domestic walnut gives folks fits. But the sulfa drug you mentioned is the one that has the most potential worry for me. I'm very allergic to sulfa drugs.

I stick to woods I have already experienced before I had an inkling that they were allergic. That keeps me from turning cocobolo, etc.. but thats OK there are plenty of non-threatening woods left to work. For some reason bubinga and lacewood don't seem to harm me, when I'd lump them in with the others that do.

There are only two kinds of people,,

Russ Fairfield

>,, those who are allergic to Cocobolo and those that will be. Welcome to those "who are".

We all have our own tolerance level. When that is reached, we have a reaction. As you have already discovered, the transition is sudden, without warning, dramatic, and often painful.

Once triggered, you will also find that you may now be sensitive to things that were never before a problem - bath and laundry soaps, other household chemical products, hair care products, fabrics, wood dusts, poison ivy and oak, some finishing products, just to name a few.

Re: exotic wood allergy???

Greg W. in NC

>Fred,

I don't want to repeat what others have said, but let me leave some other thoughts. For me, Kingwood is one of my worst problems - I have a severe asthma attack from it, and I haven't had asthma problems since I was a kid. Cocobola doesn't bother me. However, I use a dust collector religiously, and not just sanding. I also wear a turning smock and jacket under it (in the cooler months.) Further, some type of nylon pants (wind suit pants, etc), so the dust is doesn't get as easily embedded in the material. One of the problems, once you are 'in' the dust, it gets in your hair, nasal passageways, ears, etc. If you don't wash it off, you can take it to bed with you and then you're laying in it all night. I was going to the doctor regularly until I took precautions - haven't had a single problem since! Sometimes I feel like I'm with the Hazmat team, but I also want to keep feeling for many, many years! :-)

Although I don't necessarily recommend it, some folks will put a slight amount of a particular type of dust under a bandaid for a period of time, and if you're allergic to it, the skin should show reddening and/or swelling. I would ONLY suggest that procedure, following a doctor's advice, especially with the swelling in the throat. Don't take it lightly!

???48hr delay???

e

>imho, 48 hrs is a bit long for the immune response to originate from the specific exposure you mentioned from the wood dust. an allergic response is more of an immediate event that may start as a reaction such as itchy skin, eyes, throat. subsequent exposures may result in more dramatic events.

however, there is also the possibility of secondary exposure - such as the contact with clothing that had been exposed to the dust, or that darn shop-cat/dog bringing in the dust and reexposing you.

therefore, i question the dust being the immediate contaminate. however, if you bring pieces of each wood to your allergist, tests may be conducted to determine your immune response.

your doctor should be aware of your condition in light of the medication you are on. i would much more concerned with the medication.

Re: ???48hr delay???

scott hogsten

>I think I have to agree with the above, usually the reponse to inhaled or ingested items is much more immediate. FWIW - Don't overlooked any over the counter medications that you might have taken, some of these can have delayed effects (eg NSAIDs). However as mentioned above it could come from exposure to the dust from the cat, clothes, etc. I was cleaning the back corner ot the garage the other evening and I had a reaction to something (probably cocobolo dust).

Scott Hogsten

Re: ???48hr delay???

Greg W. in NC

>e,

actually my reactions typically took 8 to 12 hours after exposure before they presented themselves. Granted that is less than 48 hours. I think the best advice has been that generally given - take precautions, and get checked out by a doc.

Re: ???48hr delay???

adrien

>Just an extra note of caution: Andi Wolfe's suggestion that you have some epinephrine handy in case of a severe reaction is a good one.

In your case, I would never again try cocobolo, the likeliest allergen, because swelling of the throat implies that the next time the reaction may be more severe with constricted breating passages.

Most of the rosewoods can cause allergic reactions...

Re: exotic wood allergy???

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>FRED

I have used and told others to use the bandaid system for years.

Put the wet dust on the bandaid and put on the inside of the wrist.

I also would alert your Doc. to the potential problem. Check the dusts one by one.

I also agree cocobolo is the worst. I will not turn it and I have never had a reaction to it.

Good turning and be safe

Bill