Just in case any of you were in any doubt, I was doing some research on MDF dust toxicity the other day.
The good news is that pound for pound, it is no more of a health hazard than any other softwood dust - which is not regarded as a carcinogen by most of the 'authorities'.
The bad news is that it is less of a hazard than hardwood dust, because that, on both sides of the Atlantic, is regarded as a carcinogen...
I must admit, it made me sit up and think a little. I always put a mask on for MDF work, just because of the volume of dust created. But there are occasions when one is working with some nice piece of oak or whatever when you can be cheerfully generating some of that nice smelling hardwood dust - and it's the exact equivalent of smoking a damn cigarette!!
Sure you all knew - but it's worth reminding ourselves now and again...
The good news is that pound for pound, it is no more of a health hazard than any other softwood dust - which is not regarded as a carcinogen by most of the 'authorities'.
The bad news is that it is less of a hazard than hardwood dust, because that, on both sides of the Atlantic, is regarded as a carcinogen...
I must admit, it made me sit up and think a little. I always put a mask on for MDF work, just because of the volume of dust created. But there are occasions when one is working with some nice piece of oak or whatever when you can be cheerfully generating some of that nice smelling hardwood dust - and it's the exact equivalent of smoking a damn cigarette!!
Sure you all knew - but it's worth reminding ourselves now and again...