Dust Almanac

Afrormosia

Pericopsis elata · Fabaceae · hardwood

Also known as: assamela, kokrodua, African teak, Pericopsis elata

Region: West and Central Africa (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Congo Basin)

Planed board of afrormosia with yellowish-brown heartwood streaked with olive and light brown, and a fine even texture.

Afrormosia is a fine, durable West and Central African hardwood that starts yellowish-brown and darkens to a teak-like brown. It is used as a teak substitute for furniture, joinery, flooring, veneers and boat work, and its trade is regulated under CITES.

Health hazards

  • Skin irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK safety regulator lists skin irritation among the reported effects of afrormosia.1

    Effects
    skin irritation
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Splinter infection

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK safety regulator notes that afrormosia splinters tend to become infected (go septic).1

    Effects
    septic splinters
    Exposure route
    splinter
    From
    heartwood

  • Whole-body (systemic) effects

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK safety regulator lists nervous system effects among the reported effects of afrormosia, without further detail.1

    Effects
    nervous system effects
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    IARC classifies all wood dust as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses after long-term exposure.2

    Effects
    nasal and sinus cancer
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

Not finding a hazard listed here does not mean this wood is safe. All wood dust is hazardous; see how to protect yourself.

Exposure limits

Workplace exposure limits (8-hour average, mg/m³)
BodyLimitNotes
ACGIH TLV1 mg/m³ (inhalable) source
EU binding limit (hardwood)2 mg/m³Applies to all hardwood dust
UK WEL (hardwood)3 mg/m³Applies to all hardwood dust
NIOSH REL1 mg/m³Recommended limit for all wood dust

Compare limits across agencies.

Cancer classifications

Known compounds

  • 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone: quinone isolated from afrormosia wood; a contact sensitizer in guinea pig tests source

Sources

  1. Health and Safety Executive. Toxic woods. Woodworking Information Sheet No 30 (Revision 1), WIS30(rev1). HSE; first published 11/2012. Withdrawn from hse.gov.uk (404 since c. Jan 2020); archived copy cited. Link
  2. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Wood Dust and Formaldehyde. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 62. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 1995. Link
  3. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link
  4. Hausen BM. Sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. V. 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone: occurrence and significance as a contact allergen. Contact Dermatitis. 1978;4(4):204-213. Link

Last reviewed .