Does pressure-treated wood contain toxics? Is it safe for my raised-bed vegetable garden?
I want to build a durable raised bed for growing organic vegetables, but I’m not sure what to use that will be affordable, unlike cedar. Are there chemicals in pressure-treated wood that might leech into the soil and possibly end up in my veggies?
Pressure-treated wood is truly a "wood for all seasons"… a rugged exterior building product that’s rot and insect resistant. If Noah’s ark was made from this stuff, it would still be cruising the Mediterranean!
Treated wood is used for decks, mailbox and light posts, swing sets and playscapes, picnic tables, landscape ties, underwater dock pilings, oceanside boardwalks, telephone utility poles and, believe it or not, residential building foundations in some parts of the country!
You can purchase pressure-treated wood as lumber, boards, posts, and even plywood! Its unique ability to fend off decay makes it ideal in any high moisture and/or ground contact installations.
Yet, there is much misinformation, and, in some cases, disinformation concerning pressure-treated wood, its maintenance requirements, and its safety in common use. Let’s explore the story of pressure-treated wood, and together seek out the truth.
What is pressure-treated wood?
Over 70 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman invented the process of infusing preservative deeply into wood products. Today, a giant industry has grown up around his quest to invent a wood that can last forever.
Pressure treating is a process that forces a chemical preservative deep into the wood. The wood product is placed into a humongous cylindrical holding tank, and the tank is depressurized to remove all air. The tank is then filled with the preservative under high pressure, forcing it deeply into the wood. The tank is then drained and the remaining preservative reused. The wood is removed from the tank and prepared for shipment to your local lumberyard.
Needless to say, this process makes the wood quite unappetizing to all vermin, insects, and fungus, which accounts for its 20 year plus lifespan under the harshest conditions!
| Published on May 5th, 2010 | | Posted by admin |
May 5th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
The chemicals used in treated wood have been changed to be less dangerous. It used to contain arsenic which is deadly and leached into the soil making playgrounds, sandboxes, etc. dangerous for children. There are new composite boards made now for decks that are expensive, but last forever, unlike treated wood. If you plan on living there a long time, it may be a good investment.
References :
May 5th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Pressure-treated wood is wood that has had toxins pushed into it under pressure. In some places you can still get copper-chromium-arsenic treatments while others have move on to arsenic-free chemistry. They all leach to some extent. Bottom line is that the wood is treated with insecticide and fungicide and so cannot be used for organic veggies. You can find a durable hardwood and watch it slowly rot away or use masonry or plastic for your borders. Or you can use the treated wood and forget about "organic" claims.
References :
May 5th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Pressure-treated wood is truly a "wood for all seasons"… a rugged exterior building product that’s rot and insect resistant. If Noah’s ark was made from this stuff, it would still be cruising the Mediterranean!
Treated wood is used for decks, mailbox and light posts, swing sets and playscapes, picnic tables, landscape ties, underwater dock pilings, oceanside boardwalks, telephone utility poles and, believe it or not, residential building foundations in some parts of the country!
You can purchase pressure-treated wood as lumber, boards, posts, and even plywood! Its unique ability to fend off decay makes it ideal in any high moisture and/or ground contact installations.
Yet, there is much misinformation, and, in some cases, disinformation concerning pressure-treated wood, its maintenance requirements, and its safety in common use. Let’s explore the story of pressure-treated wood, and together seek out the truth.
What is pressure-treated wood?
Over 70 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman invented the process of infusing preservative deeply into wood products. Today, a giant industry has grown up around his quest to invent a wood that can last forever.
Pressure treating is a process that forces a chemical preservative deep into the wood. The wood product is placed into a humongous cylindrical holding tank, and the tank is depressurized to remove all air. The tank is then filled with the preservative under high pressure, forcing it deeply into the wood. The tank is then drained and the remaining preservative reused. The wood is removed from the tank and prepared for shipment to your local lumberyard.
Needless to say, this process makes the wood quite unappetizing to all vermin, insects, and fungus, which accounts for its 20 year plus lifespan under the harshest conditions!
References :
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infpre.html