Which type of wood should never be burned due to health risks?

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When wood is burned, the smoke carries whatever chemicals are in the wood. Painted or chemically treated wood contains coatings, preservatives, or adhesives that are not meant to be burned. As these substances combust, they release toxic fumes and fine particles into the air, which can irritate or damage the lungs, trigger asthma, and pose longer-term health risks from heavy metals or carcinogens. For this reason, burning painted or chemically treated wood is clearly unsafe and should be avoided.

Natural wood that hasn’t been treated, like freshly cut cedar or dry seasoned hardwood, does not contain those added chemicals, so it’s much less hazardous to burn. Unpainted plywood can still emit hazardous gases from its adhesives if burned, but the most consistently dangerous option in terms of health risks is painting or treating wood.