Dust Almanac

African ebony

Diospyros crassiflora · Ebenaceae · hardwood

Also known as: ebony, Gaboon ebony, Cameroon ebony

Region: West and Central Africa

Planed board of African ebony with dense, nearly uniform jet-black heartwood and a subtle satin sheen.

A very heavy, fine-textured hardwood whose heartwood is close to jet black. Prized for small, high-value parts such as instrument fingerboards and fittings, knife and tool handles, inlay, and turned details.

Health hazards

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Occupational asthma from ebony dust has been confirmed by inhalation challenge, once in a worker exposed to Diospyros crassiflora and once in a violin maker sanding ebony fingerboards. Skin testing was negative in the first case, so the mechanism is not known.12

    Effects
    asthma
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists ebony as a cause of dermatitis and as a possible skin sensitiser. Its listing covers ebony in general rather than naming a particular Diospyros species.3

    Effects
    dermatitis, possible skin sensitization
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    HSE also lists irritation of the moist linings of the nose, throat and eyes among the reported effects of ebony dust.3

    Effects
    mucous membrane irritation
    Exposure route
    inhalation, eyes
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    IARC classifies all wood dust as carcinogenic to humans, chiefly through cancers of the nose and sinuses. This applies to African ebony dust as it does to any other wood.4

    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

Sources

  1. Maestrelli P, Marcer G, Dal Vecchio L. Occupational asthma due to ebony wood (Diospyros crassiflora) dust. Ann Allergy. 1987;59(5):347-349. Link
  2. Kopferschmitt-Kubler MC, Bachez P, Bessot JC, Pauli G. [Occupational asthma caused by ebony wood]. Rev Mal Respir. 1992;9(4):470-471. (French) Link
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .