Questions: Spalted Wood Toxicity

by Bob Woodcock

Originally published in American Lutherie #71, 2002 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Six, 2013

Bob Woodcock of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania responds. Bob is both a poison information specialist and registered nurse.

As to the question about spalted maple being lethal, the writer may be referring to my Dec. 1991 article on wood toxicity in Wood magazine. I mentioned a case of a wood turner with allergic asthma who was found dead in his shop with spalted maple turning on the lathe. The cause of death was acute asthma.

Spalting is mostly a result of Cryptostroma corticale, a potent allergy-causing mold. You’d know if you were allergic to it; you would sneeze, cough, or tear up while working with it. These allergies tend to get worse over time, and a period away from the substance will allow the body to increase its sensitivity. Workers with allergies from work exposure find that the first day back after a few days off are the worst. This is referred to as “Monday morning asthma.” Such was probably the case with the turner. After a weekend off, his immune system was primed and ready to go; exposure resulted in death.

The take-home lesson is to use common sense. If the wood seems to bother you in any way, avoid it. ◆