Wood Shops Can Contribute to Poor IAQ

Wood shops have several hazards that can contribute to poor indoor air quality, including:

• Dust from sawing the wood: This can cause health problems such as irritation of the eyes, nosebleeds, skin rashes, asthma, coughing, wheezing, sinusitis, lingering colds, and possibly even nasal cancer. When buying wood, get certified wood products based on standards developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Though this does not have an impact on indoor air quality, it does have an impact on the overall quality of our air and environment by making sure that wood products come from well-managed forests.

• Paints, stains, and varnishes: Many of these contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can get into the air easily and be breathed in. Rather than using paints and stains that contain VOCs, use finishes that come from natural sources, such as shellac, tung oil, and linseed oil. You can also use water-based stains.

• Wood preservatives: Do not use old products that contain pentachlorophenol (PCP) as there is evidence that it causes cancer in laboratory animals, creosote, tributylin oxide, or folpet. Do not burn wood treated with wood preservatives?this would release the chemicals into the air. Old, treated, scrap wood can be taken to a landfill for disposal.
  
  As an alternative, use types of wood (such as redwood and cedar) that are naturally resistant to insects and wood rot. Another alternative is plastic lumber. This not only helps reduce solid waste from landfills, but it is resistant to insects and rot.
  
  If you go with wood, there are also water-based preservatives available that can seal wood and protect it from water rot and insects. You can also buy "pressure-treated" lumber in which the preservatives have already been applied. This eliminates the need to handle wood preservatives and exposure to toxic chemicals.
  
  If you decide to use "pressure-treated" wood, make sure the treated wood does not contain arsenic. Lumberyards may carry these under the trade names of "ACQ" or "Kodiak Wood," or they may be listed as preserved with ACQ (Ammoniacial Copper Quaternary), copper azole and/or copper citrate. All are arsenic-free and effective against rot and insects.

• Adhesives used in plywood and particleboard: These products may contain formaldehyde vapors. Formaldehyde may also cause cancer. Try using some of the new less-toxic wood working compounds that are becoming available.