Dust Almanac

Poplar

Populus spp. · Salicaceae · hardwood

Also known as: aspen, cottonwood, European aspen, black poplar

Region: Northern temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America

Planed board of poplar with creamy white to pale grey-brown wood and very plain, fine grain.

True poplars, aspens and cottonwoods give a light, soft, pale hardwood used for shelving, boxes, pallets, matches, plywood cores and wood wool, and aspen is used for sauna benches. In North America, 'poplar' lumber is often tulip poplar, which is a different tree (see related species note).

Health hazards

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    UK HSE lists sneezing among the reported effects of poplar dust.1

    Effects
    sneezing
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Eye irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    UK HSE lists eye irritation from poplar dust.1

    Effects
    eye irritation
    Exposure route
    eyes
    From
    dust

  • Skin irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    UK HSE notes that poplar may cause blisters on the skin.1

    Effects
    blisters
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Patch testing has confirmed allergic contact dermatitis to European aspen wood dust and bark, linked to salicyl alcohol and salicylaldehyde in the bark. A Finnish clinic series also recorded a worker with aspen-related dermatitis.23

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust, bark

  • 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, heavy exposure. This applies to this wood like any other.4

    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)8-hour TWA; ACGIH value as restated by OSHA. 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

Known compounds

  • salicyl alcohol: contact allergen in aspen bark source
  • salicylaldehyde: contact allergen in aspen bark source

Tulip poplar or yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera, family Magnoliaceae) is not a Populus and has its own evidence; allergic contact dermatitis to tulip poplar wood and bark has been reported (Wenk-2012). Do not apply this page to tulip poplar. Skin evidence here is from European aspen (Populus tremula).

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. Aalto-Korte K, Välimaa J, Henriks-Eckerman ML, Jolanki R. Allergic contact dermatitis from salicyl alcohol and salicylaldehyde in aspen bark (Populus tremula). Contact Dermatitis. 2005;52(2):93-95. Link
  3. Estlander T, Jolanki R, Alanko K, Kanerva L. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by wood dusts. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;44(4):213-7. Link
  4. 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
  5. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .