My Father is a woodturner who has medical symptoms that developed before Christmas. The symptoms are shivering, sweating and body aches all at the same time. Many blood tests have been normal. Wood species turned recently include beech, cherry, walnut, butternut (wet), indian rosewood, and ash, with cherry (prunus serotina) and walnut (juglans nigra) being turned throughout this period of problems. These species are mostly native here in southern Ontario, Canada.
We are wondering if there may be any connection to the wood he is turning (dust, spores, moulds, other). Any suggestions of cause or cure would be appreciated.
===================================== Scott, Exposure to wood dust created by turning and sanding has a well documented history of allergic reactions. Of the woods you listed, walnut and rosewood would be the most likely health hazard. Has he been using any sort of respiratory protection? Does he have a dust collection system? If the answer to either question is NO, then allergic reaction might be considered as a possibility. Molds are always a possible source of strange problems.
Another possibility, maybe more in line with the symptoms you describe, might be exposure to some toxic ingredient in finishing products, such as the solvent ingredients in lacquer thinner. Inhalation of these solvents (Xylene, ketones, etc.) can cause neurological problems. Maybe a trip to an MD for nerve a conduction test might reveal something. Just speaking from personal experience.
this does not sound like a reaction to wood which is usually respiratory or skin or allergy. I've heard of headachs from reaction to wood dust but shivering ie chills I have not heard of..
It almost a malaria like disease except for the time of year is wrong. Malaria can sit dormant and not develop for years before and individual comes down with it. Ofcourse I'm not a doctor but here in colorado everyone is watching for west nile and I've know a few who have gotten it. I've also traveled into countries with malaria.
Certainly do not sound like the normal histamine reactions nor the possible pulmonary symptoms associated with inhaling what are, essentially fungicides and insecticides in the wood.
This is big-time dangerous. Time to see the doctor. Solvents come to mind. As does, unfortunately, Lyme disease....
I work for a health department in Kentucky and once had a call from a guy who had a pretty severe rash on his abdomen. In the course of our conversation, I asked a lot of questions and found out he worked in a guitar factory. They had just finished a run of guitars made from Brazilian Rosewood. It was pretty hot in the factory and there was no AC, so he also worked with his shirt off. Dust extraction in the factory left a lot to be desired. His perspiration acted to speed up the reaction of the rosewood dust against his skin.
Woods of the rosewood family have a history of various allergic reactions. Most symptoms are of the skin irritation and respiratory variety. If your Dad has not seen a physician, he should do so. He should take with him a list of all the woods he has been exposed to recently, as well as a list of solvents, finishes, chemicals and other materials he may have used. As mentioned in another post, molds or funguses might be a source of his problem.
Concerning your Dad, I would be interested in knowing if his symptoms clear up or lessen in severity when he does not go to the shop for a few days. Eliminating possible allergens may be one way of figuring out the problem. He should lay off the woodturning for a few days and see what happens.
Don't forget other exposures to allergens, such as a work or in other places. And who knows, it may not be an allergic reaction after all. Your Dad may have some other physical illness and his hobby may not be the culprit after all. Its going to take a lot of detective work and his doctor is going to need all the help he can get from your Dad. Many doctors aren't trained very well for this type of work.
I agree about the rosewood. (and everything else you said) Allergies can present in other ways beside rash, hives,respiratory distress, etc. I know of a case where extreme gastrointestinal symptoms were experienced when exposed to Silk Oak. The exposure resulted in hypotension, shock, and a hospital stay. Bill Sullivan Fort Myers, FL
I got into a discussion along these lines with a well known cuemaker friend of mine. He's allergic to cocobolo, which is unfortunate, because it's often requested in cuemaking. He was telling me of how he became aware of his allergy and mentioned a woodworking friend of his who went through a period where he was just "cocobolo crazy"! He was making all sorts of things around his home out of cocobolo because he and his wife loved the natural beauty of the wood! It seems that he even made himself a beautiful "cocobolo toilet seat"! All was fine for several months until the fellow developed a wide ring circling his bottom! He'd developed an allergy for cocobolo and ended up having to remove all of his trinkets he'd made! What a way to find out?
Absolutely. Or not. Sensitivity and outright allergic reactions are common with dust, spore, molds, woods, solvents and anything else you can even imagine (plus much more). On the other hand, it's not a certainty by any means. I and most of the woodworkers/turners I know have no reactions to any woods at all. It's a possibility so it should be mentioned as such to the doctor(s).....
This is entirely the wrong place (usenet) and group (woodturning) to ask. We're all more than willing to help and feel concern for your father but any response to those questions other than from your fathers' doctor (and second, third, etc. as needed these days) is pretty useless to you. You and your doctor has no idea as to the validity of the information presented here and given the grave nature of your fathers' illness, that's not acceptable. Have your father (or you) bring up those concerns to his doctor. He'll have the resources to investigate further.
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