Copper Pressure Treated Wood

14 15 18 the risks of using recycled wood treated with cca creosote and pentachlorophenol have not been evaluated by the epa.

Copper pressure treated wood.

Their primary focus has been cca s heavy concentration of arsenic a known carcinogen. Until the early 2000s pressure treated wood was typically treated with chromated copper arsenate cca which is an extremely toxic chemical. The pressure treatment pressure treated wood has gone through a process that uses high pressure to force a solution of water and preservative agents deep into the lumber to help extend its useful lifespan. The united states environmental protection agency usepa has not banned cca but it is desirable to to take the recommended precautions to limit exposure to cca treated wood because it contains arsenic a known human carcinogen.

Those utility poles i wanted were made this way. The active ingredients commonly used in treated wood are alkaline copper quaternary acq copper azole ca or micronized copper azole mca. Chromated copper arsenate cca is a pesticide that was commonly used up until the early 2000s to protect wood used in outdoor settings from damage by insects fungi and other pests. Wood treated with copper azole mixtures is light brown when new but its color fades to a silver gray as the wood ages.

Compounds like chromated copper arsenate cca creosote and pentachlorophenol are not registered to treat wood for consumers including use in garden beds. Acq tan or olive acq is the abbreviation for amine or ammonia copper quat and it refers to wood that has been treated with a solution of amine or ammonia copper and a quaternary ammonium compound. Copper napthenate was first registered in 1951 and is used to brush dip spray and pressure treat wood that will be used in ground contact water contact and above ground such as utility poles docks posts piers fences and landscape timbers. You shouldn t even touch utility poles.

Certain types of treated wood may be used in backyard projects. On january 1 2004 the wood industry throughout north america has ceased to produce pressure treated wood treated with cca chrome copper and arsenic for residential use replacing this chemical with what is generically called non arsenic treatments primarily acq and copper azole ca both of which contains no arsenic but much more copper. Health concerns for chromated copper arsenate cca pressure treated lumber despite cca s track record as an effective economical wood preservative its safety has long been questioned by health and environmental advocates. Protects outdoor wood surfaces against mold mildew rot protects outdoor wood surfaces against mold mildew rot fungi and termites with the copper green brown 14 fl.

Arsenic is easily absorbed into the body but it does not exit the body nearly as easily.