Chromium, Copper, and Arsenic Concentrations in Soil Underneath CCA-Treated Wood Structures

Arsenic in Human History and Modern Societies

“…In 1998, the production of CCA wood preservatives accounted for more than 90 % of the As 2 O 3 used in the United States (Leist, Casey and Caridi, 2000), 126. However, as previously discussed in this chapter, the voluntary agreement between the US EPA and wood preservative manufacturers discontinued the use of CCA in virtually all American consumer products after 2003 (Wasson et al, 2005), 8865; (Townsend et al, 2003), 781. Except for the use of highly pure arsenic in the production of semiconductors, the utilization of arsenic in American commercial products declined during the second half of the twentieth century (Leist, Casey and Caridi, 2000), 126.…”

“…Beginning in the 1960s, the 'C variety' was most commonly used in the United States. This variety consisted of a mixture of about 30-38 wt % As(V) pentoxide (As 2 O 5 ), 44.5-50.5 wt % Cr(VI) oxide (CrO 3 ), and 17-21 wt % Cu(II) oxide (CuO) (Townsend et al, 2003), 790. The compounds were applied to the wood by pressure treatment (Cox, 1991), 2.…”

“…Under a voluntary agreement between the US EPA and manufacturers, CCA was discontinued in virtually all consumer products in the United States after 2003 (Wasson et al, 2005), 8865; (Townsend et al, 2003), 781. Additionally, CCA wood preservatives have been banned in Norway and Denmark , 296.…”

Arsenic in Natural Environments

“…Townsend et al (2003) has shown that 65 surface soil samples from underneath nine CCA-treated wood structures in Florida, USA, contain 1.18-217 mg kg −1 of arsenic when compared with control soils that average only 1.36 mg kg −1 (Table 3.20). In a study involving ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate wood preservatives, arsenic concentrations generally fell to background levels within 150-300 mm away from 19 utility poles in Virginia, New York, and Florida, USA ( (Morrell, Keefe and Baileys, 2003); Table 3.20).…”

Nitrogen transported to three Gorges Dam from agro-ecosystems during 1980–2000

“…In China, due to the rapid population growth and fast development of industry and agriculture, the total amount of anthropogenic reactive N input to watersheds reached 3.12 · 10 7 t in 1995 (Xing and Zhu 2002); this input includes contributions from the application of synthetic fertilizers N, NO x emission from the combustion of fossil fuels, symbiotic/non-symbiotic N fixation and N imported with food/feed. The river nitrate concentrations and flux increased approximately tenfold between 1968 and 1997 at the Datong Hydrological Station, which is located on the lower reaches of the Changjiang River (Yan et al 2003); this increase causes a number of human health and environmental problems, such as coastal eutrophication and a potentially increased frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms (Shen et al 1992;Jin et al 1990;Jin 1995;Zhang et al 1999;Townsend et al 2003).…”