Dust Almanac

Pine

Pinus spp. · Pinaceae · softwood

Also known as: white pine, eastern white pine, Scots pine, yellow pine, southern yellow pine, ponderosa pine, radiata pine, redwood (European trade name for Scots pine), deal, Pinus

Region: Northern Hemisphere natively; radiata pine widely planted in the Southern Hemisphere

Planed board of eastern white pine with pale cream wood, soft growth-ring arches and a few small tight knots.

Pine is the most common construction and furniture softwood, including eastern white pine, southern yellow pines, Scots pine, and plantation radiata pine. It is used for framing, shelving, furniture, mouldings, and pallets, and many pines are resinous.

Health hazards

  • Cancer

    Evidence: Applies to all wood dust

    IARC classifies all wood dust as carcinogenic to humans, mainly linked to cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses after long-term heavy exposure. This applies to every species, so dust control matters whatever you cut.1

    Effects
    nasal and sinus cancer
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    A small share of Danish furniture workers had IgE antibodies to pine dust, more often those with asthma, and a German carpenter's softwood allergy (spruce, pine, larch) was confirmed by skin and challenge tests. Allergy to pine protein appears uncommon.23

    Effects
    occupational asthma, IgE sensitization
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists a decrease in lung function for pine. New Zealand sawmill studies of radiata pine found more asthma symptoms, cough, and nose and eye irritation, and lower lung function at higher dust levels.456

    Effects
    reduced lung function, cough, asthma symptoms, nose irritation
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Eye irritation

    Evidence: Reported

    Eye irritation was more common in New Zealand pine sawmill workers with higher exposure. This is a survey finding, not a confirmed allergy.5

    Effects
    eye irritation
    Exposure route
    eyes
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Pine resin contains colophony (rosin) and abietic acid, common skin allergens. Finnish and Australian patients reacted on patch testing to pine sawdust and colophony, and a German case followed contact with untreated pine furniture.789

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis, airborne dermatitis of face and hands
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust, sap

  • Skin irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists skin irritation as a reported effect of pine dust, across many pine species.4

    Effects
    skin irritation
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Sun sensitivity (photosensitization)

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE notes that pine may cause photosensitisation, meaning skin reacts more strongly after sun exposure. We did not find a primary paper on this for pine.4

    Effects
    skin reaction made worse by sunlight
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

    Evidence: Reported

    A Finnish report described allergic alveolitis (lung inflammation) linked to pine sawdust. Only the title is available on PubMed, so the testing and whether mold was involved are not confirmed.10

    Effects
    allergic alveolitis
    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)8-hour time-weighted average, as restated by OSHA 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

Known compounds

  • colophony (rosin): contact allergen in pine resin source
  • abietic acid: resin acid; contact allergen source

Hoop pine (Araucaria) and 'Huon pine' are not Pinus. Colophony is also present in spruce and other softwoods. In European trade 'redwood' can mean Scots pine; California redwood (Sequoia) has its own page.

Sources

  1. 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
  2. Skovsted TA, Schlünssen V, Schaumburg I, Wang P, Staun-Olsen P, Skov PS. Only few workers exposed to wood dust are detected with specific IgE against pine wood. Allergy. 2003;58(8):772-9. Link
  3. Kespohl S, Kotschy-Lang N, Tomm JM, von Bergen M, Maryska S, Brüning T, et al. Occupational IgE-mediated softwood allergy: characterization of the causative allergen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2012;157(2):202-8. 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. Douwes J, McLean D, Slater T, Pearce N. Asthma and other respiratory symptoms in New Zealand pine processing sawmill workers. Am J Ind Med. 2001;39(6):608-15. Link
  6. Douwes J, McLean D, Slater T, Travier N, Cheng S, Pearce N. Pine dust, atopy and lung function: A cross-sectional study in sawmill workers. Eur Respir J. 2006;28(4):791-8. Link
  7. Estlander T, Jolanki R, Alanko K, Kanerva L. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by wood dusts. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;44(4):213-7. Link
  8. Cook DK, Freeman S. Allergic contact dermatitis to multiple sawdust allergens. Australas J Dermatol. 1997;38(2):77-9. Link
  9. Booken D, Velten FW, Utikal J, Goerdt S, Bayerl C. [Allergic contact dermatitis from colophony and turpentine in resins of untreated pine wood]. Hautarzt. 2006;57(11):1013-5. Link
  10. Malmström K, Savolainen J, Terho EO. Allergic alveolitis from pine sawdust. Allergy. 1999;54(5):532-3. Link
  11. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .