Responding to a heightened awareness of the possible adverse effect of treated wood, this book presents multidisciplinary research results and fundamental information on regulations, wood treatment alternatives, and documentation of environmental releases. It examines the impact of treated wood on water, soil, and organisms. Several chapters discuss ways to measure exposure and review various approaches to risk assessment and management. Case studies address human health effects of exposure. The book also presents state-of-the-art disposal technologies, new preservative compounds, and recent developments related to phase outs of certain treated wood products.

"Summarizes information on wood as an engineering material. Properties of wood and wood-base products of particular concern to the architect and engineer are presented, along with discussions of designing with wood and some pertinent uses of wood."--Page ii.

ABSTRACT: Recently, the treated wood industry phased out the use of arsenic (As)-preserved wood for residential uses in favor of copper-preserved wood. Pressure-treated wood products of CCA and three As- and Cr- free preservatives, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), copper boron azole (CBA), and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT), were studied, and the possible environmental impacts from these treated wood products were compared under identical in-service and disposal scenarios. The scenario of treated wood use in an aquatic ecosystem was simulated in laboratory conditions.

Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and industry partners are cooperating in a study of the leaching and environmental effects of a wetland boardwalk. The construction project is considered gbsworst casegcs because the site has high rainfall and large volumes of treated wood were used. Separate boardwalk test sections were constructed using untreated wood or wood treated with ammoniacal copper quat Type B (ACQ--B), ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA), chromated copper arsenate Type C (CCA--C), or copper dimethyldithiocarbamate (CDDC). Part I of this report focuses on leaching of preservative components. Surface soil, sediment, and water samples were removed before construction and at intervals after construction to determine the concentrations and movement of leached preservatives. The preservatives released measurable amounts of copper and/or chromium, zinc, or arsenic into rainwater collected from the wood, and elevated levels of preservatives were found in the soil and/or sediment adjacent to the treated wood. With few exceptions, elevated environmental concentrations of preservative components were confined to within close proximity of the boardwalk. Part II of this report focuses on the effects of boardwalks treated with CCA, ACZA, and ACQ--B on populations of aquatic invertebrates. The experimental variables were total species richness (total number of taxa), total sample abundance (number of organisms/sample), dominant sample abundance (p3s1% total specimens in vegetation, artificial substrate, and infaunal samples), and Shannongass and Pielougass indices. The infaunal samples contained the largest mean number of animals and the highest total taxa richness. Although measurable increases occurred in water column and sediment preservative concentrations, no taxa were excluded or significantly reduced in number by any preservative treatment.

Wood products used in exterior applications must be protected against biodeterioration. Traditionally, wood products used CCA or the older inexpensive organic biocides, but environmental, disposal and governmental regulations have resulted in a rapid and dramatic worldwide shift. This book covers the many steps involved in developing a wood preservative and gives overviews on modified wood, wood deterioration, worldwide trends in wood protections, and mold in homes.