Dust Almanac

Greenheart

Chlorocardium rodiei · Lauraceae · hardwood

Also known as: Demerara greenheart, bibiru

Region: Northern South America (Guyana, Suriname)

Planed board of greenheart with olive-green to olive-brown heartwood, a few darker streaks, and a fine even texture.

Greenheart is a very dense, strong, and rot-resistant timber from the Guiana Shield. It is used for marine and dock work, lock gates, heavy construction, factory flooring, and traditionally for fishing rods and tool handles.

Health hazards

  • Splinter infection

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists greenheart among woods whose splinters tend to heal slowly and often become infected.1

    Effects
    slow-healing, septic splinter wounds
    Exposure route
    splinter
    From
    heartwood

  • Heart effects

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE reports heart-related disorders among the adverse health effects associated with greenheart.1

    Effects
    cardiac disorders
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Whole-body (systemic) effects

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE also lists intestinal (gut) disorders among the reported effects of working with greenheart.1

    Effects
    intestinal disorders
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    Severe throat irritation from greenheart dust is listed by the UK HSE.1

    Effects
    severe throat irritation
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    All wood dust, including greenheart, is classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancers of the nose and sinuses after long-term exposure.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
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. 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 Withdrawn from hse.gov.uk (404 since c. Jan 2020); archived copy cited.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
  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 .