From ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca Date: Tue, 4 Oct 1994 11:43:35 EDT From: "E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor" To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Query: risk of contamination from pressure treated wood Friends: I am passing on the request of a friend regarding the risk, if any, of using pressure treated wood as edging for a garden. The garden grows vegetable crops for direct human consumption. In addition, there are fruit trees within a few meters of the garden. The edging was recently installed, and more recent information has caused this family to consider pulling it out and replacing it. Can you advise on a) what chemicals are present and leachable from the wood (e.g. arsenic.....), b) what rate of leaching is likely to occur in a humid, temperate, winter cold region, and c) direct us to any documented evidence of bioaccumulation of said chemicals in domestic vegetable and fruit crops? Thank you in advance. Ann ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca Dr. E. Ann Clark Associate Professor Crop Science University of Guelph Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508 FAX: 519 763-8933