Query: risk of contamination from pressure treated wood
E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor (ACLARK@CROP.UOGUELPH.CA)
Tue, 4 Oct 1994 11:43:35 EDT
Friends: I am passing on the request of a friend regarding the risk,
if any, of using pressure treated wood as edging for a garden. The
garden grows vegetable crops for direct human consumption. In
addition, there are fruit trees within a few meters of the garden.
The edging was recently installed, and more recent information has
caused this family to consider pulling it out and replacing it. Can
you advise on a) what chemicals are present and leachable from the
wood (e.g. arsenic.....), b) what rate of leaching is likely to occur
in a humid, temperate, winter cold region, and c) direct us
to any documented evidence of bioaccumulation of said chemicals in
domestic vegetable and fruit crops? Thank you in advance. Ann
ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca
Dr. E. Ann Clark
Associate Professor
Crop Science
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508
FAX: 519 763-8933