Wood Dust

**Semantic type:** Hazardous or Poisonous Substance

**Definition:** A light- to dark-colored granular solid mixture that is generated when timber is processed, such as when it is chipped, sawed, turned, drilled or sanded. The chemical composition of wood dust depends on the species of tree and consists mainly of cellulose, polyoses and lignin, with a large and variable number of substances with lower relative molecular mass. Wood dust is not typically produced for specific uses. However, it is used commercially for wood composts. The primary routes of potential human exposure to wood dust are inhalation and dermal contact. It is known to be a human carcinogen. (NCI05)

**Synonyms:** - Sanderdust - Sawdust - Wood Flour - Wood Meal