Dust Almanac

Ash

Fraxinus spp. · Oleaceae · hardwood

Also known as: white ash, European ash, black ash, green ash

Region: Europe, North America and Asia

Planed board of white ash with creamy pale wood and bold, open, straight grain.

Ash is a tough, springy, ring-porous hardwood with bold grain, prized for tool handles, bats, oars and steam-bent parts as well as furniture and joinery. White ash (Fraxinus americana) and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) are the main woodworking species.

Health hazards

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Occupational asthma and rhinitis from ash dust have been confirmed by inhalation challenge in separate cases involving European ash and white ash, and in a third case with a positive skin test to ash wood.123

    Effects
    asthma, rhinitis
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    UK HSE lists reduced lung function among the reported effects of ash dust.4

    Effects
    decreased lung function
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Reported

    A case of allergic contact dermatitis to white ash has been described in a woodworker. The testing method was not confirmed from the available abstract.5

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    IARC classifies all wood dust as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses after long, heavy exposure. This applies to this wood like any other.6

    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)8-hour TWA; ACGIH value as restated by OSHA. 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

Respiratory cases involve European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and white ash (Fraxinus americana); the Polish case does not name the species. Ash pollen allergy is distinct from wood dust allergy. Mountain ash (Sorbus) and prickly ash are not true ashes.

Sources

  1. Fernández-Rivas M, Pérez-Carral C, Senent CJ. Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by ash (Fraxinus excelsior) wood dust. Allergy. 1997;52(2):196-199. Link
  2. Malo JL, Cartier A. Occupational asthma caused by exposure to ash wood dust (Fraxinus americana). Eur Respir J. 1989;2(4):385-387. Link
  3. Szmidt M, Gondorowicz K. [Bronchial asthma caused by exposure to ash wood dust]. Pol Tyg Lek. 1994;49(14-15):343-344. (Article in Polish.) Link
  4. 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
  5. Scheman AJ, Xu Y, Osborne A. Allergic contact dermatitis to Fraxinus americanus and Macherium acutifolium. Am J Contact Dermat. 1999;10(4):233-235. Link
  6. 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
  7. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .