Bamboo dust... What are the effects and is it harmful?

[aldolandwehr]

Bamboo dust from treated bamboo... if grinded, or machine cut can remain airborne for 100's of meters. When inhaled the bamboo dust and borates must have some effect on your body and lungs. I know if exposed to Borax and Boric acid for long extensive periods you can become sterile and this has been proven. Now, common sense tells me if exposed to bamboo dust and micro fibers this could enter the blood stream and cause the same effect... Does any one know this as fact?

What about the micro fibers as well... does the body expel them from the lungs as it would wood dust. Are moderate levels acceptable or not?

Has any one out there done extensive research on this?? It is a concern of mine and would love to hear from anyone with a bit of knowledge on the topic.

Thank you and looking forward to your responses.

ALDO LANDWEHR
Creative Director

PT Bambu

Sibang Kaja, Banjar Saren
Abiansemal, Badung 80352
Bali, Indonesia
Skype: aldolandwehr
websites: ptbambu.com
greenschool.org

[gunngee_.300]

I am curious about this as well. I work for a woodworking company which has recently started making bamboo cabinet doors. I run the CNC and would like to find out more info on this if possible.

[CaroleMeckes]

breathing bamboo dust is not healthy for humans.
A mask or other protection is necessary.

What is a CNC?
Carole

[CaroleMeckes]

Here (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=947) is a link to a previous discussion here at the Bamboo Forums about dust and dust masks.
Carole

[gunngee_.300]

I apologise, I should have been more specific. CNC stands for computer numeric control. It is a technology that can be applied to a number of machines i.e. milling machines, laithes, routers. The machine I run is a CNC router. All it does is once the finished dimensions of the door are entered and the desired outside profile is selected, it sizes the door to the correct size and puts the profile on the door. It is very precise and is usually within a couple thousands of an inch of the desired size. As for wearing a dust mask, i would but with safety glasses on I can't see what I'm doing because my glasses fog up. I've tried using face shields to and I get the same result. So either I breathe in a very small amount of dust or I work blind. We have a very effective dust collection system so there is very little dust created but there is some.

[CaroleMeckes]

When I wear my "Dust Be Gone" mask - i tuck it under my safety goggles(which are worn over my eyeglasses). My eye glasses do not fog up unless it is an extremely humid day. see pic:
http://www.bamboobranch.com/pictures/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=8