When did they stop using arsenic,cadmium and chromium to cure pressure treated wood? What do they use now?

Question

Is it safe?

Answer 1

The EPA banned chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood in January 1, 2004. The ban was targeted for residential customers only, and CCA treated wood is still available for agricultural and industrial uses. Some were concerned with the arsenic used in such products as decks and play sets.

Two compounds, alkaline copper quat (ACQ types B and D) and copper azole (CBA-A, CA-B) are now being sold as replacement products. These copper treated woods are supposed to last as long as the CCA treated woods, but the copper used does tend to corrode fasteners like screws fairly quickly.... if you don't buy the right kind.

Learn more about pressure treated wood at:

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/new-pressure-treated-wood-decks.aspx

and

http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/

treated woods are one very good way of making outdoor lumber last a long time, reducing the need to cut down more trees.

Great question!

Answer 2

Chromium got too expensive, now they use something cheaper.

Answer 3

They stopping using them when they realized that it may have been causing people to get sick. when they would cut the would with power tools the chemicals would heat up and people started to get sick from the vapors.