anyone use chokecherry?

[Medic abroad]

Morning all,
I have some chokecherry from my neighbor's tree that i was hoping to smoke with. i know the seeds and leaves are poisionous but is it in the wood as well? The USDA fact sheet doesn't mention if burning it would cause issues.

Anyone know for sure?
Happy Labor Day all.

[Huskee]

Technically all burning wood contains some levels of arsenic, which is why you shouldn't breath any smoke...but the levels ingested from smoked meat cause no harm, at least none that's been scientifically documented. Not sure about chokecherry specifically, but I and many others have used "cherry" wood for years.

[Danjohnston949]

Like Huskee said if you stuck your head in a Bon-fire you're going to suffer some Ill Effects weather it's from the heat or the smoke. Seriously I have never heard of Choke Cherry seeds or leaves either one being poisonous? They were a major staple for Jelly, Jam and Syrup when I was a Kid. Several days of Berry Picking were on the family schedule, I hated it! This was usually in the Turtle Mountains in North Central North Dakota adjacent to the Canadian Line. The Berries were cooked whole, seeds included, then they were run through a food mill to separate the seeds and skin from the pulp. The pulp was then cooked with sugar and sure-jell, poured in jars sealed with paraffin wax. Syrup was essentially the same process as jelly only sure-jelle was not used. Not bad for dredging up 50 years or more of memories, when all I wanted to say is I have never heard of Choke Cherry Seeds or Leaves being Poisonous. Happy Labour Day, Dan