Deep penetration of the water borne formulation is achieved by application under high pressure. Millions of board feet of CCA wood are produced each year, where it is used in the construction of decks, picnic tables, playground equipment, highway sound barriers, telephone poles and docks. Reducing the use of limited forest products, such as redwood. Due to the massive amounts of CCA treated wood sold each year, dispersal of these additives from the wood could impact the environment. The potential toxicity of Cu, Cr, and As to humans, animals, and plants is well documented.
Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen.
We conducted a field study to determine if there was any evidence that the CCA preservative could leach from the wood. As content in soils under decks built with CCA treated wood was determined. The decks ranged in age from 4 months to 15 years. Decks are ideal for the study of the effects of weathering due to rain and solar radiation on the wood. The wood is above ground and there are large amounts of horizontal surfaces so that any preservative leachate tends to flow directly to the soil below.