Chemistry and toxicology of building timbers pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate: a review.
A recent agreement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the wood-treating industry will result in a phase-out of building timbers preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). This agreement was motivated by a desire to reduce exposure to arsenic in the production, utilization and disposal of such material. The leaching of chromium, copper and arsenic from CCA-treated building timbers into water and soil and the subsequent environmental effects have been reviewed, as have the laboratory and epidemiological studies on the toxicology of CCA-treated building timbers. The benefits of the phase-out agreement are questionable because much arsenic will remain in the environment, and the alternatives to wood preservation with CCA are not without environmental consequences.
Katz
Sidney A
SA
Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102-1411, USA. Skatz@Camden.Rutgers.edu
Salem
Harry
H
D000818:Animals; D001149:Arsenates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014934:Wood
D001149:Arsenates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; D003300:Copper; D001151:Arsenic