“Not to omit any one of them, the yew is similar to these other trees in general appearance . . . 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.”
–Pliny the Elder, from Naturalis Historia, ca. 77 AD
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. 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?
Wood Toxicity and Allergen Chart
Below you’ll find a chart of various wood species, along with their reported effects and properties.
Wood Species |
Reaction |
| African Blackwood | irritant, sensitizer |
| Mahogany, African | irritant, sensitizer, NPC (rare) |
| Muninga | irritant, asthma, bronchitis |
| Rhodesian Teak | irritant |
| Teak | irritant, sensitizer, rash, nausea, asthma, vision effects, pink eye, HP |