Chemistry and toxicology of building timbers pressure‐treated with chromated copper arsenate: a review

Abstract

A recent agreement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the wood-treating industry will result in a phase-out of building timbers preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). This agreement was motivated by a desire to reduce exposure to arsenic in the production, utilization and disposal of such material. The leaching of chromium, copper and arsenic from CCA-treated building timbers into water and soil and the subsequent environmental effects have been reviewed, as have the laboratory and epidemiological studies on the toxicology of CCA-treated building timbers. The benefits of the phase-out agreement are questionable because much arsenic will remain in the environment, and the alternatives to wood preservation with CCA are not without environmental consequences.

Mitochondrial Damage Mediates Genotoxicity of Arsenic in Mammalian Cells

“…In this regard, our current data are consistent with our previous observations that Rhodamine 6G-treated A L cells with diminished mitochondrial membrane potential show essentially no mutations upon exposure to arsenic. 5 Peroxynitrite anion is a strong oxidant and nitrating species resulting from the near diffusion-controlled reaction of superoxide with nitric oxide (49). There is evidence that, in tissues, peroxynitrites not only escape the scavenging by most low molecule weight antioxidants (50), but can also activate stress responsive pathways and kinases of the src family to modulate cellular signal transduction cascade (49,51).…”

“…Although the water supplies in the United States are generally low in arsenic, there have been reports of arsenic contamination of ground water in the Southwest with levels in the hundreds and, in few cases, >1,000 Ag/L (1). In the United States, arsenic contamination of the environment is mainly through the use of chromated copper arsenate-preserved timbers in the construction industry (5). Leaching of arsenic and other preservative components from wood used in aquatic and residential situations poses serious threat to the environment with some 140 million pounds of chromated copper arsenate solution being used annually.…”

Heavy Metals and Human Health

“…In addition, chromium plays a key role in the fixation of copper and arsenic to the wood. The toxicity of chromium, copper and arsenic compounds was reviewed by Katz & Salem (2005) in different taxa of animals, and humans. The effects of CCA on aquatic and agricultural environment were also mentioned by these authors.…”

A Mutant of the Arabidopsis Phosphate Transporter PHT1;1 Displays Enhanced Arsenic Accumulation

“…Arsenic can be solubilized in ground water, exposing animals and humans to potentially toxic effects (Nickson et al, 1998;Meharg and Hartley-Whitaker, 2002;Gó mez et al, 2004;Katz and Salem, 2005).…”