Specification

PHYSICAL DATA
Boiling Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Specific Gravity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Variable
Dependent on wood species and moisture content.
Vapor Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
% Volatiles of Volume . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Melting Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Vapor Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Solubility in H
2
0 (% by wt.) . . . . . . . . Insoluble
Evaporation Rate
(Butyl Acetate=1) . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
pH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Appearance & Odor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Light to dark colored granular solid. Color and odor
are dependent on the wood species and time since
dust was generated.
FIRE & EXPLOSION DATA
Flash Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Autoignition Temperature . . . . . . . . . . Variable
Typically 400-500
0
F.
Explosive Limits in Air . . . . . . . . 40 g/m
3
(LEL)
Extinguishing Media . . . . . . . Water, CO
2
, Sand
Special Fire Fighting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . .
Wet down with water. Wet down wood dust to reduce
the likelihood of ignition or dispersion of dust into the
air. Remove burned or wet dust to open area after fire
is extinguished.
Unusual Fire & Explosion Hazard . . . . . . . . . . .
Strong to severe explosion hazard. If wood dust
“cloud” contacts an ignition source.
HEALTH EFFECTS DATA
Exposure Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACGIH TLV:
Western Red Cedar
TWA-0.5 mg/m
3
(inhalable)
All Other Species
TWA-1.0 mg/m
3
(inhalable)
OSHA PEL:
(See important foonote 1 below)
TWA-15.0 mg/m
3
(total dust);
5.0 mg/m
3
(respirable fraction)
Skin & Eye Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wood dust can cause eye irritation. Various species of
wood dust can elicit allergic contact dermatitis in
sensitized individuals.
Ingestion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Skin Absorption . . . . . . . . Not known to occur
Inhalation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May cause nasal dryness, irritation & obstruction,
coughing, wheezing, & sneezing. Sinusitis & prolonged
colds have also been reported.
Chronic Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wood dust, depending on species, may cause
dermatitis on prolonged, repetitive contact; may cause
respiratory sensitization and/or irritation. Wood dust is
listed in the National Toxicology Program annual report
on carcinogens. IARC classifies wood dust as a
carcinogen to humans (Group 1). This classification is
based primarily on IARC’s evaluation of increased risk
in the occurrence of adenocarcinomas of the nasal
cavities and paranasal sinuses associated with
exposure to wood dust. IARC did not find sufficient
evidence to associate cancers of the oropharynx,
hypopharynx, lung, lymphatic and hematopoietic
systems, stomach, colon or rectum with exposure to
wood dust.
TRADE NAME: Wood Dust
SYNONYMS: None
CAS. NO.: None
DESCRIPTION: Particles generated by any manual or mechanical
cutting or abrasion process performed on wood.
1
In AFI-CIO v. OSHA, 965 F. 2d 962 (11th Cir. 1992), the court overturned OSHA’s 1989 Air Contaminants Rule, including the specific PELs
for wood dust that OSHA had established at that time.
The 1989 PELs were: TWA - 5.0 mg/m
3
; STEL(15 MIN.) - 10.0 mg/m
3
(all soft and
hard woods, except Western Red Cedar); Western Red Cedar; TWA
- 2.5 mg/m
3
.
Wood dust is now officially regulated as an organic dust under the Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) or Inert or Nuisance Dust
Categories at PELs noted under Health Effects Data section of this MSDS. However, a number of states have incorporated provisions of the 1989
Standard in their state plans. Additionally, OSHA indicated that it may cite companies under the OSH Act General Duty Clause under appropriate
circumstances for non-compliance with the 1989 PELs.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
WOOD DUST
Simpson Lumber Company, LLC
917 East 11th Street, Tacoma, WA 98421-3039
253-779-6429