Yew chopping boards???

[Mark Cattell]

I would be more worried about the long term exposure to food stuffs packaged in plastics and residual chemicals from industrial cleaning products and pesticide herbicides used in food production and the bio-accumulation of chemicals in the food chain than some residual chemicals from Yew chopping board...

[delabodge]

I agree with mark,,dont even start to look into the ingredients of your shampoo!!hence why I use a eco friendly one, but I do make yew wine stoppers!!!

[Rob D]

From Trada:

 

 

Good Morning

Unfortunately this is not something we can authoritively answer.

There is a publication “woods injurious to human health”, that says the following about yew...

“The leaves, stems, bark, pollen and wood contain at least eleven different compounds called taxines, which are responsible for the toxic effects of yew.”

However this was written in the context of woodworking and sawdust. There are essential oils in yew, that may leach in the presence of moisture, and these are toxic. But most timber’s can contain chemicals that could be harmful, the question is if the quantity in which they may leech into water or food products is harmfull, and I do not have data on this.

Generally speaking, many timbers are used for chopping boards and bowls, and this publication lists many chemicals for these timbers that can be toxic and reported ill effects with working with these timbers (including timbers like oak which are commonly used). But little ill effects are heard of in their use as bowls and boards, where such products are often seasoned and finished, often the chemicals are shown to have an anti-bacterial effect rather than any toxic affect to humans, this is possibly due to the concentration levels of these extractives being lower in contact with food/water than in woodworking and sawdust exposure. I suspect you could ask me about any timber, and you would find it contains a number of “toxic” chemicals.

If you needed a definite answer, you would have to get the items tested in a laboratory. We do not do this work, but I suspect the fee’s for such work would be at least a few thousand.

Kind Regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[agg221]

I had a chat with one of my colleagues today whose background is in developing bespoke solvents. At one point his previous company developed a specific solvent for alkaloids (which the taxines are) and, coincidentally, tested effectiveness on yew.

 

He recalls a number of pieces of previous work on the subject of extraction of taxines, this being something people often want to deliberately achieve, so there has been a reasonable amount of investigation. He has said he will have a look at whether there is anything specifically useful in relation to the original question.

 

One point he did make - taxines are far more soluble in acid solutions, so a wine goblet is more likely to extract a significant concentration (due to both pH and standing time) than a chopping board.

 

I'll keep you posted if he finds anything.

 

Alec

[delabodge]

look forward to the results,,,

[Paul Cleaver]

I personally wouldnt risk it - have you got kids? - get yourself a piece of Hornbeam

[woodyguy]

Rob, take your point that many woods have toxins within them. There is just a huge difference between tannins (ie tea) in oak and specific toxins in Yew that are so powerful they are one of the mainstays for killing breast cancers. Not all toxins are equal. Plenty of farm animals have been killed from eating Yew but can't remember too many from Oak.

 

I wonder where you'd stand if someone was injured from a bowl or chopping board you sold?

[delabodge]

the problem with yew boards are they are very attractive and the natural colours sell, any items made in yew sell well,,,I have to admit I havnt made any boards out of it, as by the very nature of chopping, or cutting your going to scour the surface, thus raising some residue,dust etc, so as a safety thing, and the fact I`m selling stuff, i wouldnt want to risk it,,,

when I turn it i wear a dust mask and have a extractor going but my eyes still get blood shot, (or is that the beer?)

[Ian Leach]

Rob, take your point that many woods have toxins within them. There is just a huge difference between tannins (ie tea) in oak and specific toxins in Yew that are so powerful they are one of the mainstays for killing breast cancers. Not all toxins are equal. Plenty of farm animals have been killed from eating Yew but can't remember too many from Oak.

 

I wonder where you'd stand if someone was injured from a bowl or chopping board you sold?

 

plenty of animals have died from eating berries and foliage , but who's died from eat wood as if anyone can

 

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[Ian Leach]

the problem with yew boards are they are very attractive and the natural colours sell, any items made in yew sell well,,,I have to admit I havnt made any boards out of it, as by the very nature of chopping, or cutting your going to scour the surface, thus raising some residue,dust etc, so as a safety thing, and the fact I`m selling stuff, i wouldnt want to risk it,,,

when I turn it i wear a dust mask and have a extractor going but my eyes still get blood shot, (or is that the beer?)

 

probably the beer , never had problems with my eyes, but always wear dust mask and extractor going when sanding.

 

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