Kurt Rosenzweig
01-12-2007, 3:24 PM
I pulled this off another forum and thought it should be shared!
Ailanthus altissima aka Tree of Heaven aka Chinese Sumac is a common ornamental that has escaped into our fields and forests. It would be very possible for turners to come across this wood from arborists or other usual sources of "junk" wood. The problem with Ailanthus is that the sap is a cardio toxin. I have attached a link. Refer to the report beginning at the top right hand column. We often think of the hazards caused by wood dust but little is heard about some of the hazard that may be present in sap.
web page (http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4801/staff/safety/pdfs/hazardous-plants/ailanthus-cardiotoxin.pdf)
Ailanthus altissima aka Tree of Heaven aka Chinese Sumac is a common ornamental that has escaped into our fields and forests. It would be very possible for turners to come across this wood from arborists or other usual sources of "junk" wood. The problem with Ailanthus is that the sap is a cardio toxin. I have attached a link. Refer to the report beginning at the top right hand column. We often think of the hazards caused by wood dust but little is heard about some of the hazard that may be present in sap.
web page (http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4801/staff/safety/pdfs/hazardous-plants/ailanthus-cardiotoxin.pdf)