dianamp@COMCAST.NET on wed 11 aug 10
Dear Clayart:
Can anyone (chemist? wood firer?) give me more information about the toxici=
ty of
burning treated wood?
Thanks,
diana pancioli
EMU
Robert Harris on wed 11 aug 10
Depends what you mean by "treatment" but in general I'd say it was a
really bad idea. If you don't want toxic fumes then any organic
treatments (i.e. Creosote etc) needs to be burnt at extremely high
temperatures (2000C is a number that springs to mind, but I may have
pulled that out of my unmentionables).
If it is treated with an inorganic substance (i.e. potassium salts)
you are more likely to be OK, but in general my advice is don't.
Robert
James Freeman on wed 11 aug 10
Diana...
It is illegal (in every state) to burn the old CCA treated lumber.
This was the greenish lumber, and was treated with chromated copper
arsenate. Burning releases the nasty chromium and the deadly arsenic.
The ashes can contain fatal levels of arsenic. It can only be
legally disposed of in a landfill.
It is against EPA regulations under FIFRA to burn lumber treated with
creosote except in special very high temperature incinerators and
furnaces, at temperatures much higher than those reached in your kiln.
This lumber too must be disposed of in a landfill.
The new ACQ treated lumber has nothing terribly bad in it. It is
alkaline copper quat (quaternary ammonia, I believe). It seems as
though nothing terrible could be released from it when burnt (here, I
defer to our chemists), though I am unaware of any EPA regulations
concerning it's disposal. Note, however, that every manufacturer of
ACQ treated wood advises against burning it (check any of their
websites).
Be aware that the old CCA treated lumber is still being made and sold.
The change in the law precluded it's sale to consumers, but it is
still available to agriculture and others. I live in a rural area.
The lumber I just purchased for my garden arbor is ACQ treated (the
new stuff), but the 6x6 posts are all CCA treated.
I hope this helps. I also hope you are well. Please say hello to Lee for =
=3D
me.
All the best.
...James
James Freeman
"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice.=3DA0 I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 10:24 AM, wrote:
> Dear Clayart:
>
>
> Can anyone (chemist? wood firer?) give me more information about the toxi=
=3D
city of
> burning treated wood?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> diana pancioli
> EMU
>
John Hesselberth on wed 11 aug 10
On Aug 11, 2010, at 11:02 AM, Robert Harris wrote:
> If it is treated with an inorganic substance (i.e. potassium salts)
> you are more likely to be OK, but in general my advice is don't.
Hi Diana,
I agree with Robert here. Don't risk it. Wood for ground contact used to =
=3D
be treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Burning that would =3D
undoubtedly give a dogs breakfast of compounds that would certainly make =
=3D
smoking seem safe. That compound is no longer used for household =3D
purposes, but I think you will still find it in lumber used for harsh =3D
environments like saltwater. And if you are considering "used" lumber =3D
there is a high probability is has CCA in it. There is lots of it =3D
around. Take a look at Wikipedia at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_preservation
to see some of the chemicals that are used for various types of treated =3D
wood. Since you probably won't know exactly which one your wood has been =
=3D
treated with please don't gamble.=3D20
Regards,
John
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