Wood shavings once came from a living organism. Living things often defend themselves against attack. Trees are no exception to this. The principal defence and offence (depending on the species) is a chemical. Often the chemical is a phenol based one. There are a number of trees that release noxious chemicals. Anyone whom has worked with a cocobolo and got a face full of dust from it can attest, it sucks. Many woods have toxic effects, not only pine and cedars.

Pine chips that are sold in bulk by me are raw untreated chips full of bark, twigs, and often mouldy chips. The principal pine chip supplier in my area does not sell kiln dried pine chips. I would suggest raw pine to be a poor idea, the fact it is so often covered in black mould is as good a reason as any. That said typically pine chips are kiln dried and cost a fair bit more (the raw pine chips by me are a flat fee, as much as you are willing to move by hand.) and are free of issues for the most part.

I would suggest kiln dried pine to be fine as long as it does not have a strong smell. The same can be said for aspen (Populus wood, aka poplar on most wood charts) Cyprus is regional it depends on where the tree is from, some is fine some is bad news for the people handling it. (who knows how reptiles react)

That is the next issue how do reptiles react, almost across the board is an unknown. It forces an extrapolation, phenols are not good for humans in high concentrations, there is a good chance phenol is not good for small mammals either and a fair guess is likely not good for reptiles generally. There is a long standing belief phenol based chemicals kill or repel snakes. Often there is some truth to old home remedies. I am fairly comfortable saying phenols are bad news. They are found in many wood products and tons of cleaners (pinesol, detol, thymol, etc.) and in glues as well (Resorcinol) . i personally with the weight of anticedal evidence avoid phenol laden products. Pure kiln dried pine is likely fine, raw not kiln dried in my estimation is not fine at all.

I don't think there is a safe substrate that was always with out issues and was perfect. There would be no debate on it if it existed. It isn't a question of safe, but of safer. Kiln dried pine sure should be fine, aspen as well as it too has been kiln dried and that process breaks down the oils in question. Cyprus as long as it came from N. America sure. There are paper products likely good too.

There is not exact answer here, too many variables and unknowns. It is likely that any reasonably low toxic wood is fine especially after kiln drying. I would be more concerned with various cleaners and glues.


http://www.wood-database.com/wood-ar...-and-toxicity/