Dust Almanac

Australian blackwood

Acacia melanoxylon · Fabaceae · hardwood

Also known as: blackwood, Tasmanian blackwood, blackwood acacia, sally wattle

Region: Southeastern Australia and Tasmania; planted elsewhere

Planed board of Australian blackwood with golden to reddish-brown heartwood, shimmering fiddleback figure, and a thin edge of pale sapwood.

Australian blackwood is a medium-density acacia with golden to dark reddish-brown heartwood, often with striking curly or fiddleback figure. It is used for fine furniture, cabinetry, veneer, and musical instruments such as guitars and ukuleles.

Health hazards

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Occupational asthma from blackwood dust was reported in Australian woodworkers, and a NIOSH-funded review lists it among woods with a positive specific challenge test.123

    Effects
    asthma
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Reported

    Blackwood has long been reported to cause allergic skin rashes in Australian woodworkers. Lab studies identified several heartwood compounds that can sensitize skin, though their individual strength appears modest.456

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    heartwood, dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    All wood dust, including Australian blackwood, is classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancers of the nose and sinuses after long-term exposure.7

    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: contact allergen source
  • acamelin: contact allergen (furanoquinone) source
  • melacacidin: contact allergen (hydroxyflavan) source

Hausen-1990 notes melacacidin occurs in many other Acacia species, so related acacia woods could plausibly cause similar skin reactions; this has not been confirmed species by species.

Sources

  1. Wood-Baker R, Markos J. Occupational asthma due to blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon). Aust N Z J Med. 1997;27(4):452-453. Link
  2. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Occupational Asthma and Wood Dust. Project S.E.N.S.O.R. News. 2017 May;28(3):1-4. Link
  3. Clarke PS. Allergic reactions to blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon). Med J Aust. 1989;150(4):222-223. Erratum: Med J Aust 1989;150(7):412. Link
  4. Tilsley DA. Australian blackwood dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis. 1990;23(1):40-41. Link
  5. Hausen BM, Schmalle H. Quinonoid constituents as contact sensitisers in Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon RBR). Br J Ind Med. 1981;38(2):105-109. Link
  6. Hausen BM, Bruhn G, Tilsley DA. Contact allergy to Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R.Br.): isolation and identification of new hydroxyflavan sensitizers. Contact Dermatitis. 1990;23(1):33-39. Link
  7. 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
  8. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .