Nasty Dust Inside Box Elder - Allergies?

[SpeakEasy]

Was splitting some box elder today, and some of the splits had in them remnants of old, rotted branches that had been encapsulated. (No outside evidence of a former branch - only a swelling.) The remnants of these old branches inside the tree were nothing but a brown dusty substance. I looked at the stuff, but didn't touch it or have much of anything to do with it. Since I finished splitting, I have had a HUGE problem with sneezing, runny nose, and runny eyes. I'm wondering if there was something there that I'm allergic to. Has anyone ever had a similar experience?

Thanks,
-Speak

 

[bogydave]

Could be.
Maybe some dry mold spores?
Maybe you just have a cold. Tis the season

 

[Shari]

Was splitting some box elder today, and some of the splits had in them remnants of old, rotted branches that had been encapsulated. (No outside evidence of a former branch - only a swelling.) The remnants of these old branches inside the tree were nothing but a brown dusty substance. I looked at the stuff, but didn't touch it or have much of anything to do with it. Since I finished splitting, I have had a HUGE problem with sneezing, runny nose, and runny eyes. I'm wondering if there was something there that I'm allergic to. Has anyone ever had a similar experience?

Thanks,
-Speak

Ditto here to the allergy to box elder. The wood itself doesn't seem to bother me but I can't saw it as the dust gets to me. If I had my way with my Dr. I'd say box elder sent me on a long, long trail of sinus infections.

 

[LLigetfa]

I knew a guy that was quite alergic to wood. The problem was that he was a cabinet maker.

I know Cedar sawdust gets to me.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

So stay away from from box elder in the future for sure.

 

[Shari]

So stay away from from box elder in the future for sure.

I do. I gave away about 1/2 cord that I had to take in order to get some shagbark hickory. The box elder was around 8" diameter, 4' lengths - great, east sawing. The previous year I had sawed up about a face cord of the same size, dry as a bone. The sawdust was like I was tossing baby powder around me. Never again! I don't even care if it's green wood - I won't cut it anymore.

 

[SpeakEasy]

Well, the runny nose and eyes lasted for a couple of days and then went away. Since it started suddenly and ended sort of suddenly, I really don't think it was a cold. I've never really had this sort of thing happen with wood before. I think there must be some mold spores inside the wood, and splitting it released them. I think that's what I'm reacting to, but who knows for sure?

It's a bit of a bummer because I've got quite a bit left to process. Some friends and I took most of this huge old box elder down for an elderly lady, and I get to keep the firewood. But I have to do the splitting. I guess I'll try wearing a dust mask the next time I work on it.

-Speak