Dust Almanac

Peroba

Aspidosperma polyneuron · Apocynaceae · hardwood

Also known as: peroba rosa, red peroba

Region: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina

Planed board of peroba rosa with rosy to yellowish-tan heartwood, irregular darker streaks, and a very fine texture.

Peroba rosa is a moderately heavy Brazilian hardwood with rosy to yellowish-brown heartwood. It has long been used for construction, joinery, flooring, and furniture, and reclaimed peroba is popular for furniture today.

Health hazards

  • Skin irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists skin irritation and blistering among reported effects of peroba.1

    Effects
    skin irritation, blisters
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    Irritation of the moist linings of the nose, throat, and eyes is listed by the UK HSE for peroba.1

    Effects
    mucous membrane irritation
    Exposure route
    inhalation, eyes
    From
    dust

  • Whole-body (systemic) effects

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE reports whole-body effects such as headache, nausea, stomach cramps, and weakness in people working with peroba.1

    Effects
    headache, nausea, stomach cramps, weakness
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    All wood dust, including peroba, 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

'Peroba' is used for more than one timber. Peroba de campos (usually Paratecoma peroba) has caused eczema in an older report, and allergic contact dermatitis has been reported from other Aspidosperma woods; neither is confirmed for peroba rosa.

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 Withdrawn from hse.gov.uk (404 since c. Jan 2020); archived copy cited.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 .