Pressure-Treated Wood may impact human health

Unlike other lumber, board, I know Homedepot will NOT custom cut Pressure-Treated lumber for you due to health concerns.

EHHI :: Pressure-Treated Wood may impact human health

http://www.ehhi.org/wood/ptw_info.shtml

Pressure-Treated Wood Information
What is Pressure-Treated Wood?
Pressure-treated wood is lumber that has been impregnated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) to protect it against insects and deterioration. Copper and arsenic, used together, are old formulas for insecticide treatments. Pressure-treated wood impregnated with CCA, is often used for decks, play-ground equipment, picnic tables, edging of vegetable gardens, and wherever and whenever people try to protect wood structures from decay.

Why should we be concerned about it?
Although CCA does keep wood from rotting, it also poses a health threat to people. Unfortunately, the copper and arsenic does not stay locked up in the lumber, but instead, leaches out. Arsenic is the most toxic component of CCA-treated wood and it is the continuing low level exposures to arsenic that are a concern, especially to children.

The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station has done many studies on this product and has found that the arsenic leaches out from the CCA-treated wood onto the soil beneath decks and into garden soils and vegetables when used as garden edging. People can inadvertently ingest arsenic when they get it on their hands and even on their food when eating at picnic tables made of CCA-treated wood.

Exposures to arsenic are also being borne by home-owners and professional construction workers when they work with the CCA -treated wood, as breathing the sawdust is another route of arsenic exposure.

Burning CCA-treated wood is yet another problem because, when burned, the wood releases arsenic into the air. The air exposures can be substantial and is the reason why this product is so hard to dispose of.

Children in particular, who are especially vulnerable to toxins in the environment, need to be protected from exposures to CCA -treated wood.

How to seal and protect against arsenic exposures from Pressure Treated Wood.
One can easily safeguard against arsenic exposures from CCA -treated wood even if it is already in your home, your playground, or your school. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station recommends sealing the wood every two years by either painting it or sealing it with oil-based stains. This sealing method will keep the arsenic from leaching out of the wood. Certainly, all play equipment, picnic tables, decks, and edging of vegetable gardens should be sealed every two years.

When sawing this wood one should wear protective breathing equipment to protect from inhaling the arsenic from the sawdust. Also, CCA wood should never be burned or used for wood-chips.