Copper Azole Treated Wood Safety

Pressure treated wood has gone through a process that uses high pressure to force a solution of water and preservative agents deep into the lumber to help extend its useful lifespan.

Copper azole treated wood safety.

The copper deters insects and the fungicide prevents soil rotting the lumber. However some preservative may migrate from the pressure treated wood into surrounding soil over time and there may be incidental contact with skin during construction or use. Copper azole and alkaline copper quaternary treatments both contain a fungicide. Manufacturers are confident of course that these treatments pose no health or environmental problems.

Is acq and ca pressure treated lumber safe. Sally brown a research assistant professor of soils at the university of washington knows her way around both food and metals. Material safety information copper azole treated wood products page. The active ingredients commonly used in treated wood are alkaline copper quaternary acq copper azole ca or micronized copper azole mca.

Precautions for use continued personal protection for normal work on dry treated wood a dust mask and goggles should be worn as protection from wood dust when machining or sawing. Copper azole preservative penetrates into and remains in pressure treated wood for a long time. However some preservative may migrate from the preserved wood into surrounding soil over time and there may be incidental contact with skin during construction or use. Follow the safe practices listed below when working with pressure treated wood.

Studies have shown that arsenic from wood treated with cca leaches into the soil and that copper although much less toxic leaches from acq and copper boron azole cba a variant of ca b.