Evaluating landfill disposal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood and potential effects on groundwater: evidence from Florida.
Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood has been used for more than 50 years. Recent attention has been focused on appropriate disposal of CCA-treated wood when its service life ends. Groups in the US and Europe concerned with the possibility of arsenic migration to groundwater from disposed CCA-treated wood have proposed that consumers be required to dispose of the wood as a hazardous waste, in the most protective of landfills. We examined available data for evidence of arsenic migration from unlined construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfills in Florida, where CCA-treated wood is disposed. Florida was chosen because soil, groundwater, landfill design, weather, and levels of CCA-treated wood use make the state a uniquely sensitive indicator for observing arsenic migration from CCA-treated wood disposal sites, should it occur. We developed and quality-checked a CCA-treated wood disposal model to estimate the amount of wood and associated arsenic disposed. By 2000, an estimated 13 million kg of arsenic in CCA-treated wood was disposed in Florida; however, groundwater monitoring data do not indicate that arsenic is migrating from unlined C&D landfills. Our results provide evidence that highly stringent regulation of CCA-treated wood disposal, such as treatment as a hazardous waste, is unnecessary.
Saxe
Jennifer K
JK
Gradient Corporation, 20 University Road, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. jsaxe@gradientcorp.com
Wannamaker
Eric J
EJ
Conklin
Scott W
SW
Shupe
Todd F
TF
Beck
Barbara D
BD
D001149:Arsenates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005431:Florida; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014934:Wood / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D001149:Arsenates; D014873:Water Pollutants; C040890:chromated copper arsenate