Dust Almanac

Padauk

Pterocarpus soyauxii · Fabaceae · hardwood

Also known as: African padauk, African padouk, barwood, camwood

Region: Central and tropical West Africa

Planed board of African padauk with vivid orange-red heartwood and open pores.

African padauk is a bright orange-red hardwood that darkens to reddish brown with age. Woodworkers use it for turnery, carving, boxes, accents, flooring and boat parts; its dust is strongly coloured and stains skin and clothing.

Health hazards

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    A worker developed occupational asthma from padauk dust, confirmed by a specific inhalation challenge that also caused a marked rise in eosinophils (allergy-type white cells) in the airway.1

    Effects
    occupational asthma, eosinophilic airway inflammation
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    A woodworker reacting to several exotic woods had a strong positive patch test to padauk sawdust, and an occupational allergic skin rash from Pterocarpus soyauxii has also been reported.23

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Eye irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists padauk as a reported cause of itching, eye irritation and swelling such as puffy eyelids, noting that effects depend on the species.4

    Effects
    itching, eye irritation, eyelid swelling
    Exposure route
    eyes, skin
    From
    dust

  • Whole-body (systemic) effects

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE also lists vomiting among reported effects of padauk, again noting that it varies by species.4

    Effects
    vomiting
    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.5

    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

Several Pterocarpus species are sold as padauk (e.g. Andaman padauk, P. dalbergioides, which has its own dermatitis report: Mehta 2007, PMID 17343633). Kejaat/muninga (Pterocarpus angolensis) has its own page.

Sources

  1. Doyen V, Kespohl S, Sohy C, Jadot I, Rifflart C, Thimpont J, de Lovinfosse S, Raulf M, Vandenplas O. Eosinophilic occupational asthma caused by padauk wood dust. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023;11(10):3240-3241.e1. Link
  2. Rackett SC, Zug KA. Contact dermatitis to multiple exotic woods. Am J Contact Dermat. 1997;8(2):114-117. Link
  3. Kiec-Swierczynska M, Krecisz B, Swierczynska-Machura D, Palczynski C. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by padauk wood (Pterocarpus soyauxii Taub.). Contact Dermatitis. 2004;50(6):384-385. Link
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .