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more_legal_areas arsenicPressure treated wood safety should be a concern in any residential or commercial property that houses or may soon house this type of wood material. Wood is pressure treated with substances containing arsenic and creosote. These compounds can protect and extend the life of a wood product, protecting it from rotting and decay. Unfortunately, these compounds pose a major threat to human health.
Arsenic is a carcinogen that has many sources, though ninety percent of all arsenic produced goes into making pressure treated wood in a form called chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Creosote is a carcinogenic chemical that is also primarily used to pressure treat wood. Because of these serious health threats, pressure treated wood safety measures must be employed in order to protect people from deleterious health problems.
Pressure treated wood safety is compromised in a number of ways. Sawing, sanding or otherwise compromising the integrity of pressure treated wood can release arsenic or creosote dust into the air, where it may be inhaled and cause health problems. If you burn pressure treated wood, you are also at risk of inhaling hazardous fumes. When residential or commercial construction projects require manipulation of treated woods, proper pressure treated wood safety should be followed.
Pressure treated wood safety involves ensuring that exposure is limited to as few people as possible. People who work with this wood should use proper personal protective gear, including dust masks, gloves, and protective clothing as part of their pressure treated wood safety plan. The dust and other particles from pressure treated wood can also enter the soil, water, and food sources surrounding the area where pressure treated wood is found. Therefore, pressure treated wood safety precautions must also ensure that these sources are not contaminated or are not consumed if contamination is possible.
Pressure treated wood safety may also involve seeking alternatives to these dangerous materials. Composite wood, denser woods (i.e. redwood, cedar, etc.) and other arsenic/creosote-free products can be used instead of pressure treated woods. These alternatives are effective and may require a greater financial investment, but the returns, in terms of human safety, are also much greater.
If using pressure treated wood is unavoidable, there are other pressure treated wood safety measures that can protect human health. Applying coatings and sealing to pressure treated wood may minimize exposure to arsenic or other dangerous chemicals. Pressure treated wood safety also involves avoiding use of these materials to build things that humans will come into contact with regularly. This means that pressure treated wood should not be used to build furniture or play structures, nor should it be used in residential interiors. The government recommends that commonsense pressure treated wood safety precautions be employed by individuals who are faced with new or existing structures containing creosote or arsenic pressure treated wood. The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for wood materials can help determine if wood was treated and will indicate the need for pressure treated wood safety precautions.
Pressure treated wood using arsenic, an effective poison for hundreds of years, was used in deck construction for many years but is no longer sold for residential use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned most uses of arsenic as a pesticide...