Khaya Eight species are native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. The species are difficult to distinguish, especially after felling. Contact dermatitis from the wood-dust can resemble seborrhoeic dermatitis or neurodermatitis. The dermatitis affected the face, neck and ears but the postauricular skin was spared and the bald rather than the hairy area of the scalp was affected in workmen who did not wear caps. Khaya wood dust was not irritant by patch test in contrast to Tectona .
Higher concentrations carry a risk of active sensitisation.
The wood dust does not appear to affect the respiratory tract. Other woods, introduced into shipments of K. anthotheca can be distinguished by chemical tests. Several may also produce sensitisation but some are inactive. West African mahogany is a name given to a variety of hardwoods and patch tests should be carried out with botanically identified woods in addition to samples supplied from the work area. Zafiropoulo et al.