Dust Almanac

Rosewood

Dalbergia spp. · Fabaceae · hardwood

Also known as: East Indian rosewood, Indian rosewood, sonokeling, palisander, African blackwood, Honduras rosewood

Region: Tropical regions worldwide (Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia)

Planed board of East Indian rosewood with deep purple-brown heartwood and a stripe of pale sapwood.

True rosewoods are the Dalbergia genus, dense and often oily hardwoods used for guitar fretboards and backs, woodwind instruments, furniture, turnery and inlay. Common woodworking species include East Indian rosewood (D. latifolia), Brazilian rosewood (D. nigra), cocobolo (D. retusa) and African blackwood (D. melanoxylon); the trade name 'rosewood' is also applied to many non-Dalbergia woods.

Health hazards

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Patch testing has confirmed allergic skin reactions to rosewood in musicians and instrument makers, with dust-borne rashes in the makers and cross-reactions between different Dalbergia woods. Case reports for East Indian rosewood (D. latifolia) describe hand dermatitis in a wood turner and airborne dermatitis from its dust.12345

    Effects
    allergic contact dermatitis, airborne contact dermatitis, cheilitis
    Exposure route
    skin, inhalation
    From
    dust, heartwood

  • Skin allergy

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE lists rosewoods (many species) as a reported cause of dermatitis, noting that effects can arise just from handling the wood.6

    Effects
    dermatitis
    Exposure route
    skin
    From
    dust, heartwood

  • Respiratory irritation

    Evidence: Listed by an agency

    The UK HSE also lists rosewoods (many species) as a reported cause of respiratory disorders, without naming a specific mechanism.6

    Effects
    respiratory disorders
    Exposure route
    inhalation
    From
    dust

  • Asthma / respiratory allergy

    Evidence: Confirmed in clinical testing

    Occupational asthma confirmed by inhalation challenge has been reported for Brazilian rosewood (D. nigra), and respiratory allergy for cocobolo (D. retusa). Evidence for other rosewoods is not established.78

    Effects
    occupational asthma, rhinitis
    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.9

    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

Known compounds

  • dalbergiones (e.g. 4-methoxydalbergione): quinone allergens shared across Dalbergia woods, thought to explain cross-reactions source

See the separate pages for cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) and Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). Many woods sold as 'rosewood' (e.g. Bolivian rosewood/pau ferro, Machaerium) are not Dalbergia; check the botanical name.

Sources

  1. Pfohler C, Tilgen W. Contact dermatitis of the lips due to late-type sensitization against dalbergiones in a wooden recorder. Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):29-31. Link
  2. Gamboa PM, Sanchez de Vicente J, Segurola A, Galan C, Escalera LMP, Arrien A, Jauregui I. Allergic contact dermatitis to woods of the genus Dalbergia in musical instruments. Contact Dermatitis. 2024;91(4):317-320. Link
  3. Piletta PA, Hausen BM, Pasche-Koo F, French LE, Saurat JH, Hauser C. Allergic contact dermatitis to East Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.). J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;34(2 Pt 1):298-300. Link
  4. Gallo R, Guarrera M, Hausen BM. Airborne contact dermatitis from East Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.). Contact Dermatitis. 1996;35(1):60-61. Link
  5. Athavale PN, Shum KW, Gasson P, Gawkrodger DJ. Occupational hand dermatitis in a wood turner due to rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia). Contact Dermatitis. 2003;48(6):345-346. Link
  6. 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
  7. Godnic-Cvar J, Gomzi M. Case report of occupational asthma due to palisander wood dust and bronchoprovocation challenge by inhalation of pure wood dust from a capsule. Am J Ind Med. 1990;18(5):541-545. Link
  8. Eaton KK. Respiratory allergy to exotic wood dust. Clin Allergy. 1973;3(3):307-310. Link
  9. 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
  10. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Chemical Database: Wood Dust. Last updated 06/23/2023. Link

Last reviewed .