Dermatitis due to the wood dusts of Khaya anthotheca and Machaerium scleroxylon

Abstract

The causes of several cases of dermatitis at three furniture factories have been investigated. At two factories the trouble was traced to the wood of Khaya anthotheca, one of the species which comprise African mahogany. At the other factory the wood of Machaerium scleroxylon, a timber of similar appearance to Rio rosewood, was implicated. The relationship was established in each case by patch tests. Workers allergic to K. anthotheca reacted strongly to the constituent anthothecol whilst those allergic to M. scleroxylon were strongly sensitized by (R)-3, 4-dimethoxydalbergione and its related quinol.