Dust Almanac

Cocobolo

Dalbergia retusa · Fabaceae · hardwood

Also known as: granadillo, palo negro, nambar, cocobolo prieto

Region: Pacific side of Central America, from Panama to southwestern Mexico

Planed board of cocobolo with orange-red heartwood streaked with black and a thin edge of pale sapwood.

Cocobolo is a very dense, oily Central American rosewood whose heartwood turns deep orange-red with dark streaks. It is prized for knife and tool handles, inlay, turned boxes, pens and musical instruments; its natural oils help it polish well but make gluing harder.

Health hazards

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Several patch-test-confirmed reports show cocobolo can cause allergic skin rashes in woodworkers and in people using cocobolo items such as recorders and bracelets. In one case a cabinetmaker developed a rash over most of the body after working with the sawdust.12345

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis, eczema
    Exposure route
    skin, inhalation
    From
    dust, heartwood

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Reported

    An early report described respiratory allergy, including asthma, in workers exposed to cocobolo dust. We could not confirm what testing was done, so treat this as a reported effect.6

    Effects
    asthma, rhinitis
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    All wood dust is classified as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancers of the nose and sinuses after long-term exposure. This applies to this wood like any other.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)Applies to wood dust generally; this species has no separate ACGIH value. 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

  • obtusaquinone: quinone methide identified as the main skin sensitizer source
  • R-4-methoxydalbergione: dalbergione that gave positive patch tests in sensitized patients source

Cocobolo is one of the Dalbergia rosewoods; see also rosewood (genus) and Brazilian rosewood. Dalbergia woods share related quinone allergens, and reactions to more than one Dalbergia wood have been reported (Gamboa-2024).

Sources

  1. Hausen BM, Munster G. Cocobolo wood, a forgotten eczematogen? Recent findings on the skin allergen of cocobolo wood (Dalbergia sp.) [in German]. Derm Beruf Umwelt. 1983;31(4):110-117. Link
  2. Guanche AD, Prawer S. Generalized eczematous contact dermatitis from cocobolo wood. Am J Contact Dermat. 2003;14(2):90-92. Link
  3. Rackett SC, Zug KA. Contact dermatitis to multiple exotic woods. Am J Contact Dermat. 1997;8(2):114-117. Link
  4. Correale CE, Marks JG Jr. Contact dermatitis in a woodworker. Am J Contact Dermat. 2002;13(1):42-44. Link
  5. Chudnoff M. Dalbergia retusa (cocobolo). In: Tropical Timbers of the World. USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 607; 1984. Tech sheet hosted by USDA Forest Products Laboratory. Link
  6. Eaton KK. Respiratory allergy to exotic wood dust. Clin Allergy. 1973;3(3):307-310. 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 .