Burning Yew

[cloutman360]

Yew is poisonous but is it dangerous as you burn it ?

[Kae]

Some variety's can be burnt, but I wouldn't suggest it. Canadian Yew for example has Taxine in it which can be carried in the smoke, really isn't good for you!

Kae.

[cloutman360]

Thanks Kae,
Not a wood to be used as kindling in a house then.

[wingate_52]

The seeds of the yew tree are poisonous. Nil by mouth.

[grimsby archer]

400 year old Yew trees can prove fatal if they fall on you

[mkeyfoo]

Originally Posted by grimsby archer

400 year old Yew trees can prove fatal if they fall on you

I think he meant Bunished gold when he wrote Jerusalem!

[Del the Cat]

Originally Posted by wingate_52

The seeds of the yew tree are poisonous. Nil by mouth.

But the actual flesh of the berries isn't...
Not tasty enough to bother harvesting, but I sampled a couple just to see.
There doesn't seem to be much good reliable information on the toxicity of the wood... I was getting quite a lot of dust as I was sanding (by hand) the last Yew bow I made...I didn't bother with a mask, but I would do if I was using power tools. Mahogany dust plays havoc with my sinuses, quite a few timbers are irritants.
Del

[Artemis]

As you say many woods are toxic to some degree. Yew has to be treated with great respect. We had a bowyer in the Craft Guild who nearly went blind as a result of yew toxicity and has not been able to even enter a room with unsealed yew in it for many years. This was not only a reaction to yew vapour, but has now weakened his immune system so that he has a number of health problems and when recently stung by a bee went into anaphylactic shock and nearly died. So don't be complacent when it comes to protection, when handling or sanding yew - or any wood - it is not worth the risk...

[Nightimer]

As a woodturner who turns a lot of yew I have one thing to say-----
TREAT YEW WITH CAUTION !!!!
Especially dry wood when sanding.
I wear a powered resperator when I turn yew,if I didnt my chest gets tight and my sinus's close up---nasty stuff healthwise but beautiful wood.

[jb.68]

The answer is yes, but so it is to all smoke from wood. Wood smoke is carcinogenic, (as is all wood dust) it contains over 100 different chemicals including carbon monoxide, methane, dioxin, as well as lead, cadmium, arsenic and creosote (it’s this that builds up in the chimney and causes chimney fires). Scientists say that wood smoke is 12 times more carcinogenic than equal amounts of tobacco.

The particulates, which are in smoke, are less than 10 microns in diameter and can find their way into the alveoli in the lung. Once in the alveoli the particulate matter can cause structural and chemical changes, which interfere with oxygen uptake. The toxic compounds and carcinogens also enter into the bloodstream via the alveoli.

Fires that burn slow are more likely to produce particulates, where as fast roaring fires re-burn the smoke and therefore burn off a lot of the particulates. Modern wood burning stoves have a chamber where the smoke is re-burnt and released virtually particulate free.

So I guess it depends where you are burning your yew, if it is out in the open, you’re probably fine, but in an enclosed area it’s not recommended, but that applies to all woods.

Hope that helps.

jb

[nutterforlongbows]

Yes, Yew is very dangerous, was talking to Richard Head who said he has respiratory problems from working with Yew and some people in the Craft Guild of bowyers and Fletchers have had very serious side effects

[Robin the Hood]

The yew needs to be treated with respect, as has been pointed out already, it can be very toxic.
Having said that, a few years ago, it was used in experiments for treatment of cancer. The people that were using it had asked that anyone who had Yew hedge cuttings (even just a bag) to ring them and they would have it collected to use in the process. Daft old me lost the number, and I have quite a bit, when I do my 'Topiary' roll on one we have up the garden.....

Paul....

[DenzilS]

Taxol. Still being used as far as I know. I think it was mainly made from Pacific Yew from Oregon. I think there were fears that too many trees were being destroyed to create it, so it may be being synthesised by now.

[danilo5t]

Hardwood dust, if inhaled, can induce mutation in your DNA.
Not good for your future children.
Always wear an approved dust mask while sanding hardwoods.

[Furface]

Originally Posted by mkeyfoo

I think he meant Bunished gold when he wrote Jerusalem!

Though this is totally off topic...
I think we can give old William the credit for knowing what he was writing, as he is one of the indisputed Masters of the language. In this context he was being a tad metaphorical, what with his arrows of desire and all, not to mention a slightly unrealistic chariot of fire. He seems to be taking the weapons of what he saw as the unwelcome industrial Revolution and taking them in idealised form to fight it to create Jerusalem.
And not a mention of Yew - though I do love the Yew in Fortingall that was supposed to have been planted by Pontius Pilate at his birthplace.
Is that enough for Yew