Is green treated lumber not dangerous to use for my vegetable garden? If my tomatoes touch the treated lumber will I be poisoned? I...
If my tomatoes touch the treated lumber will I be poisoned?
I used to not care and immediately my neighbor has made me paranoid.
Answers: It depends on the course the wood was treated. Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) be the primary method of treating lumber until the EPA worked with manufacturer to phase out it's use in 2003. Some of this wood may still be sold. Of concern are the toxic ingredients chromium and arsenic, both highly, very toxic. Over time small amounts of the chemicals, mostly arsenic, may leach out of the treated timber and into the surrounding soil. Improper disposal, specifically burning CCA treated lumber, can concentrate these chemicals contained by the ash to a particularly deleterious level. Not a apt thing.
ACQ and Copper Azole (Wolmanizing) are just now developed alternatives to CCA. Copper, tebuconazole and boron, boric acid are used surrounded by the Wolmanizing process. I'm not terribly up to date with ACQ.
I would voice, better safe than sorry and avoid using treated lumber fundamental your food.
The lumber you have mentioned which you describe as the color green is if truth be told a chemical dyed to identify the treated lumber. The chemicals just to mark one in the lumber to save it from rotting is arsenic. Don't put it around anything your planning on eating. It is notably poisonous. Use some of the plastic trim available to use around your veggie beds.