Current wood treatments are harmful to human health and the environment
Wood treatment is necessary to prolong the life of wood
- Untreated wood rots within 1-3 years
- Treated wood can last between 20-50 years
Human health hazards include
- skin, eye and upper respiratory tract irritation
- nausea, liver, kidney and central nervous system damage
- cancer and death
Environmental hazards include
- leaching and release of harmful chemicals into the surrounding environment
- accidental contamination due to spills and fires
- bioaccumulation, biomagnification and acute toxicity to fish and aquatic marine life
Hazardous chemicals used in wood treatments include
- creosote (coal tar)
- biocides: chromated copper arsenate, alkaline copper quaternary, copper azole and other copper compounds
- pentachlorophenols
- bis(tributylyn oxides)
- zinc napthenates
