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CCA Treated Wood - Consumer and Handler Safety
The chemicals present in CCA-treated wood can pose risks to the health of humans and the environment. Because of this, the EPA and the lumber industry have created guidelines for the proper handling, use and disposal of CCA-treated wood products. Precautions for CCA-treated wood include wearing protective equipment to avoid contact with eyes and skin and avoiding the inhalation of sawdust during sawing or sanding activities. Treated wood should not be burned in open fires, stoves, fire places or other situations where people may be exposed to the smoke or ash. The laws regarding proper disposal of CCA-treated wood may vary by state. Check with your local waste management agency before placing treated wood in the municipal trash.
If you have questions about CCA, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (7:30am-3:30pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Additional Resources:
- Consumer Awareness Program - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Consumer Safety Information Sheet - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Treated Wood End-Tags - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- In vitro bioavailability of heavy metals in pressure-treated wood dust - Gordon et al., 2002; Toxicological Sciences
- Questions and Answers - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Preliminary Risk Assessment for Workers - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
