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Environmental and Health Issues and Recommendations  Less Hazardous:
Wood treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), a restricted-use pesticide, contains arsenic, a carcinogen that poses safety concerns to those who work with it.
- Alternatives such as non-wood materials (see Recycled Plastic Lumber section), naturally decay-resistant wood, and wood treatments like Ammoniacal Copper Quaternary, [1] Copper Azole [2] and sodium silicates [3] are safer to use.
 End-of-Life Management:
Treated wood waste is subject to California's Hazardous Waste Control Law and must be managed accordingly.
See the Introduction for complete descriptions of these environmental and health issues.
BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
Treated wood contains chemical preservatives to protect it from water damage, fungal decay, and insect infestation. A cause for concern, however, is that one of the most common preservatives contains high levels of arsenic - a known carcinogen. This is the popular preservative Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). Arsenic also appears in several other preservatives, such as Ammoniacal Copper Arsenate and Ammoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate, but CCA is the most widely used.
After twenty years of heavy consumer use of CCA-treated wood, questions are now being raised about its potential health and environmental risks. High levels of arsenic have been found in soil samples taken from residential sites (around decks) where CCA-treated wood was used. For those working with the wood, there are additional concerns about risks of exposure. Disposal concerns have arisen because tests indicate that most of the arsenic remains in the wood after its useful life. These and other factors have led people to seek out alternatives, including recycled plastic lumber and wood that is treated with less toxic chemical preservatives such as Ammoniacal Copper Quaternary (ACQ, types B, C, and D), Copper Azole (types A and B) or sodium silicates.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has phased out residential usage of wood treated with CCA. For more information, see the Laws and Guidelines section.
Wood can be treated with other pesticides such as pentachlorophenol or creosote; however, these preservatives are normally used on pilings, utility poles, or railroad ties. [4],[5] Wood treated with these preservatives may be hazardous and use of recycled utility poles or railroad ties should be avoided if people will come into direct contact with them.
Before buying or using treated wood, consider where the wood will be used and investigate alternative materials. Anyone using treated wood should weigh these factors:
- Will the wood be used indoors or outdoors?
- Will people or animals come into direct contact with the wood?
- Will the wood come in contact with any drinking water source?
- Will the wood come in contact with any water body, such as a lake, stream, or ground water?
- Is there a less toxic or nontoxic alternative to using treated wood? [6]
Alternative Materials
There are a variety of less toxic materials suitable for many projects as substitutes for treated wood. Some examples include:
- Metal for structural applications and plastic for docks, decks and other outdoor amenities. For more information, see the Recycled Plastic Lumber section.
- Untreated, sustainably harvested cedar or redwood in places where people come in direct contact with the material.
- Landscape blocks or rocks for landscaping projects.
- Steel pilings filled with concrete in place of creosote-treated underground construction pilings.
- Wood treated with less toxic preservatives, such as ACQ and Copper Azole.
Wood treated with the copper-based ACQ and Copper Azole should be avoided near aquatic ecosystems, since copper is highly toxic to many aquatic organisms. [7] Note that ACQ-treated wood is more corrosive to certain types of metal fasteners than CCA-treated wood. [8] Information on appropriate fasteners can be obtained from manufacturers of treated wood products.
LAWS AND GUIDELINES
California
Statute
California law [Chapter 597, Statutes of 2004 (Matthews, AB 1353)] requires treated wood waste to be disposed of in either a class I hazardous waste landfill or in a composite-lined portion of a solid waste landfill unit that meets specified requirements. All variances granted by the Department of Toxic Substances Control before January 1, 2005 governing the management of treated wood waste are inoperative and have no further effect.
Federal
The USEPA has phased out usage of wood treated with CCA. In spring 2002, the USEPA announced a voluntary decision by industry to move consumer use of treated wood away from a variety of pressure-treated woods that contain arsenic by December 31, 2003. Today, existing stocks of CCA-treated wood may be sold until depleted, and consumers may still buy and use this old stock. But no new product will be sold for residential use. For more information, see the USEPA's CCA Guidance page.
PERFORMANCE
ACQ- and Copper Azole-treated wood contains no USEPA-listed hazardous compounds. It meets the same standards for above-ground and ground contact established by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and the American Wood-Preservers' Association (AWPA) for CCA-treated wood. According to a manufacturer of the ACQ preservative, 99 percent of the preserved wood market could be served with ACQ-treated wood. Similarly, much of the preserved wood market could be served with Copper Azole-treated wood. [9]
AVAILABILITY AND VENDORS
There are a number of manufacturers in western states producing ACQ-treated wood and Copper Azole-treated wood. Lists of suppliers of these products are available in the Oikos Green Building Source Product Directory. See also the product directories listed in the California Integrated Waste Management Board's (CIWMB) Sustainable Building Tool Kit.
COST
Note: The following discussion on cost is general and is not meant to reflect specific contracts or to supersede existing mandates or policies.
"Products made from low-toxicity preservatives are expected to cost 10 percent to 20 percent more than CCA-treated lumber." [10],[11] Additional costs may be incurred for end-of-life management of treated wood waste due to California law [Chapter 597, Statutes of 2004 (Matthews, AB 1353)] which requires treated wood waste to be disposed of in either a class I hazardous waste landfill or in a composite-lined portion of a solid waste landfill unit that meets specified requirements.
SPECIFICATIONS
California
Any project calling for treated wood should include specifications that require ACQ-treated wood and Copper Azole-treated wood. Specifications should also require that the delivered product comply with the Uniform Building Code for wood preservative treatment and be identified with the ACQ Wood Preservative Treatment mark or Copper Azole Wood Preservative Treatment mark.
Consider including language in future contracts that requires manufacturers to identify the quantity of toxic metals per unit of wood (e.g., mg / kg) and award more points to manufacturers who can provide a product that contains less toxic metals, while meeting performance standards.
The Procurement Engineering Team of the Department of General Services' Procurement Division develops and reviews specifications for statewide commodity standards and information technology. If you have questions regarding developing specifications, contact the team.
RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
American Wood-Preservers' Association (AWPA)
Birmingham, AL
(205) 733-4077
The AWPA is a non-profit organization responsible for promulgating voluntary wood preservation standards.
BANCCA.ORG
Gainesville, FL
BANCCA.ORG is a comprehensive online reference for consumers and end users of CCA Pressure Treated Wood. This Web site features many articles and resources on the use and disposal of CCA, and includes a directory of alternative products.
BuildingGreen.com
Brattleboro, VT
(802) 257-7300
BuildingGreen.com offers both print and electronic resources to help design and build construction projects from a whole-systems perspective and take an integrated design approach that minimizes ecological impact and maximizes economic performance. BuildingGreen.com publishes Environmental Building News, a publication that features articles on energy and resource-efficiency, healthy building practices, and environmental building materials.
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)
Sacramento, CA
(916) 341-6000
The CIWMB's mission is to reduce waste, promote the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protect public health and safety and the environment, in partnership with all Californians. See the product directories listed in the Sustainable Building Tool Kit.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
The DTSC's mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality, by regulating hazardous waste, conducting and overseeing cleanups, and developing and promoting pollution prevention. More than 1,000 scientists, engineers and specialized support staff work in nine DTSC locations statewide. See the DTSC's November 2005 Treated Wood Waste Management fact sheet.
Florida Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Gainesville, FL
(352) 392-6264
Sponsored by the Florida Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, the CCAResearch.org Web site contains current CCA-related research and publications.
Healthy Building Network (HBN)
Washington, DC
(202) 898-1610
A project of the Washington, DC office of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the HBN is a national network that promotes healthier building materials as a means of improving public health and preserving the environment. The HBN maintains a Web page on arsenic-treated wood and alternatives, featuring articles and a downloadable fact sheet.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
St. Paul, MN
(651) 296-6300
(800) 657-3864
The MPCA is a state agency that provides information and assistance on pollution prevention practices to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations involving air quality, surface and ground water, and solid and hazardous waste. See the fact sheet titled "Treated Wood: Use, Disposal and Alternatives for Businesses."
Oikos Green Building Source
Bend, OR
(541) 317-1626
Oikos is a Web site devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction. The site features hundreds of articles covering environmental building practices along with information on CCA and alternatives.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Washington, DC
(202) 272-0167
The USEPA is reviewing older pesticides (those initially registered prior to November 1984) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ensure that they meet current scientific and regulatory standards. This process, called reregistration, considers the human health and ecological effects of pesticides and results in actions to reduce risks that are of concern. See the USEPA's CCA Web page.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Forest Service
Forest Products Laboratory
Madison, WI
(608) 231-9200
Established in 1910 by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) serves the public as the nation's leading wood research institute. The FPL is recognized both nationally and internationally as an unbiased technical authority on wood science and use. Visit its Frequently Asked Questions about Wood Preservation Web page.
Waste Age
Skokie, IL
(866) 505-7173
In 2001, the industry trade magazine Waste Age published the cover story, "Poison Wood: Good Wood Gone Bad," about waste industry concerns over disposal of CCA-treated wood. Today the magazine maintains a CCA-focused Web site devoted to ongoing research and regulation of CCA.
END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT
California law [Chapter 597, Statutes of 2004 (Matthews, AB 1353)] requires treated wood waste to be disposed of in either a class I hazardous waste landfill or in a composite-lined portion of a solid waste landfill unit that meets specified requirements. All variances granted by the Department of Toxic Substances Control before January 1, 2005 governing the management of treated wood waste are inoperative and have no further effect.
[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides: Reregistration, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Alternatives to Chromated Copper Arsenate Web page. Available at www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/alternativestocca.htm. Accessed on December 28, 2005.
[2] Ibid.
[3] J.M. Syken. "The Green Thumb: The Road Less Traveled (A Second Look, Part Five)." Walls & Ceilings. Posted on July 1, 2005. Available at the "Walls and Ceilings" web site.
[4] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets, Preliminary Risk Assessment Pentachlorophenol ("Penta"), HCB and Dioxin: Questions and Answers Web page. Available at www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/pentachlorophenol.htm. Accessed on December 28, 2005.
[5] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets, Preliminary Risk Assessment for Creosote Web page. Available at USEPA. Accessed on December 28, 2005.
[6] Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, "Treated Wood: Use, Disposal and Alternatives for Businesses," March 2000, www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/pubs/4_67.pdf
[7] Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn (eds.). Green Building Products: the GreenSpec® Guide to Residential Building Materials. New Society Publishers. 2005.
[8] Richard J. Dolesh, National Recreation and Park Association. "Wood-Be Alternatives." Available at www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=2066. Accessed on December 28, 2005.
[9] See the American Wood-Preservers' Association (AWPA) use categories in "Introduction to AWPA's Use Category System," Treated Wood News (provided by Western Wood Preservers Institute), Summer 2002. Available at www.wwpinstitute.org/pdffiles/AWPA_UseCatSys.pdf.
[10] Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, Technology Inventory Accelerating Awareness of Housing Innovations, ToolBase Services Web site. Wood Preservatives - Low Toxicity. Available at www.toolbase.org/techinv/techDetails.aspx?technologyID=150#initialcost. Accessed on January 13, 2006.
[11] Alan Froome. "Wood Treaters Switch to New Chemicals," TimberLine, posted April 1, 2004. Available at www.treatedwood.com/news/industry_articles/new_chemical_040104.pdf. Accessed on January 13, 2006.
Special Note: Portions of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual were borrowed or adapted from the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota.
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