I Need Protection From My New Deck

I just finished my new deck. To protect my investment and to reduce costs, I did what most do - I used pressure treated lumber. It has been used in Canada for over 30 years so it must be reasonably safe - or so I thought. I guess that I was swayed by the slogan "forest preservation through wood preservation."

Now I find that I have to protect myself, my friends, and my family, from my new deck. I should have known better than to expect our lumber industry and our environmental representatives to willingly protect us from a toxic and proven carcinogen.

My buddy from Brampton enlightened me almost before I was finished my handiwork. He brought me two articles that dampened my enthusiasm for my newly constructed pride and joy.

Within a week another friend told me that he often builds decks in his chosen trade of carpentry. He recently completed a large deck for a young couple in Cambridge. The sawdust and rainwater rain, from the deck area, ran into the fish pond whereupon every fish died from the leached poison originating in the wood.

Somewhat belatedly, I find myself on the Internet trying to sort out the facts from the hysteria. The following is a bit of the findings.

According to one article I read, "It is incredible, but a single 12 foot 2 x 6 contains about 27 grams of arsenic - enough arsenic to kill 250 adults." Scary stuff eh?

"Burning CCA wood releases the chemical bond holding arsenic in the wood, and just one tablespoon of ash, from a CCA wood fire, contains a lethal dose of arsenic. Worse yet, arsenic gives no warning -- it does not have a specific taste or odour to warn you of its presence."

No one seems to dispute that the ash from burning CCA wood is highly dangerous and it is now illegal, most everywhere, to burn CCA treated wood. The ash residue has serious consequences for anyone exposed to it -- including firefighters. One American family used drop-offs from a construction site for firewood. This Journal of the American Medical Association report tells of the dire consequences of their misadventure -- grand mal seizures, blackouts, complete hair loss, and the death of all plants and fish within the house. In another case a farmer burned his waste pressure-treated wood in his back yard. The ashes apparently have a salt-like taste that appealed to the neighbour's cattle. They ate the residue and the complete herd died from the arsenic poisoning.

There is an additional danger to people from handling the product. In addition to carpenters who are warned to avoid the dust, we have those who have direct contact with the end product. It is hard to avoid contact and yet that seems to be necessary. Don't sit on decks. Don't walk on decks without shoes on. Don't place food on the wood. Don't allow infant children to crawl on decks. Don't allow kids to play under decks or school equipment made with CCA. Unexpectedly, my deck has become an inconvenience to me.

How many kids will suffer ill health from the youthful pleasure of finding a special hiding place under the neighbors porch or deck?

Direct contact can be avoided somewhat by coating the material with weatherproofing or paint. This appears to be the only recourse that I have if I want to use my deck without constantly washing my hands and elbows(I tend to lean on the railing).

Concern regarding ground water contamination is growing because of run-off and the burial of CCA wood waste in city dumps. Telephone poles, fence poles, cottage docks etc. are also treated with CCA. The product is everywhere.

The military had a nerve gas in their arsenal that was made with arsenic. When CCA is exposed to galvanizing or zinc material, and acid rain, it gives off the same nerve toxin. It is recommended that wood residue should not be stored in galvanized garbage cans and decks should not be acid washed.

The industry has responded to the recent concerns by saying the media is over reacting. "There is no danger, it's natural" t hey say. "The standards that authorities have set are too stringent and must be raised" they add. " It is safe for popsicle sticks" says another. "Give us time to find alternatives" says another. It was interesting to find that CCA wood-preservation formulas are banned in both Japan and Europe.

The rhetoric goes on and on while I waste my summer weather-coating my deck to reduce the danger of arsenic exposure by 90%.

Have a nice day.