Dust Almanac

Fir

Abies spp. · Pinaceae · softwood

Also known as: true fir, silver fir, European silver fir, balsam fir, grand fir, noble fir, white fir, SPF (spruce-pine-fir)

Region: Mountain and northern forests of Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America

Planed board of fir with pale creamy wood and straight, evenly spaced growth rings.

True firs give a pale, light, fairly soft wood that is sold mixed with spruce and pine as framing and general construction lumber, and used for joinery, crates and plywood. It is not the same tree as Douglas fir.

Health hazards

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Reported

    A review of wood allergy lists fir (Abies) among woods reported to cause occupational asthma, based on German studies of wood workers. We could not access those original studies, so this remains a reported, unconfirmed link.1

    Effects
    occupational asthma
    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. This applies to this wood like every other species.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
UK WEL (softwood)5 mg/m³Applies to all softwood dust
NIOSH REL1 mg/m³Recommended limit for all wood dust

Compare limits across agencies.

Cancer classifications

Fir is usually sold and processed together with spruce and pine; reports of softwood allergy may involve more than one of these.

Sources

  1. Schlünssen V, Sigsgaard T, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Kespohl S. Workplace exposure to wood dust and the prevalence of wood-specific sensitization. Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):101-110. 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

Last reviewed .