Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a wood preservative used for timber treatment, in use since 1930's. It is a mix of copper chromate and copper arsenate. It preserves the wood from rotting due to insects and microbes. It is also known under trade name Tanalith. The chromium acts as a bactericide, the copper acts as fungicide, and the arsenate acts as insecticide. It became used as an alternative to creosote, pentachlorophenol, and coal tar. Sodium silicate is one of the modern alternatives to CCA. Lumber is the name used, generally in North America, for wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for the purpose of woodworking or construction. ... In forestry, timber treatment describes the intensive treatment of timber with chemical agents to increase its durability and ability to be used in an otherwise inappropriate situation like inground use. ... Copper arsenate (Cu3(AsO4)2. ... The aviation term ROT stands for rate one turn. ... Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ... A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... General Name, Symbol, Number chromium, Cr, 24 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 51. ... A bacteriocide or bactericide is a substance that kills bacteria and, preferably, nothing else. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... Fungicides are pesticides for destruction or development prevention of fungi. ... The arsenate ion is AsO43-. An arsenate (compound) is some compound that contains this ion. ... An insecticide is a pesticide whose purpose is to kill or to prevent the multiplication of insects. ... Creosote is the name used for a variety of products: wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. ... Pentachlorophenol (C6HCl5O) is a man-made (i. ... Coal tar is the liquid by-product of the distillation of coal to make coke. ... Sodium silicate, also known as water glass, is a compound used in cements and textile processing. ...

CCA-treated wood is often referred to as CCA wood or pressure treated wood. Lumber is the name used, generally in North America, for wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for the purpose of woodworking or construction. ...

An extremely common preservative developed in the 1930s. In CCA treatment, copper is the primary fungicide, arsenic is a secondary fungicide and an insecticide, and chromium is a fixative which also provides ultraviolet (UV) light resistance. Recognized for the greenish tint it imparts to lumber, CCA is a preservative that was extremely common for many decades, however it contained arsenic. The chemicals may leach from the wood into surrounding soil, resulting in concentrations higher than naturally occurring background levels. A study cited in Forest Products Journal found 12–13 percent of the chromated copper arsenate leached from treated wood buried in compost during a 12-month period. Once these chemicals have leached from the wood they are likely to bind to soil particles, especially in soils with clay or soils that are more alkaline than neutral. In the United States on 1 January 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began restricting the use of CCA in treated lumber in residential and commercial construction, with the exception of shakes and shingles, permanent wood foundations, and certain commercial applications. This was in an effort to reduce the use of arsenic and increase environmental safety. However some consumer outlets such as Home Depot were still reported to be selling CCA lumber long after the ban went into effect. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... Fungicides are pesticides for destruction or development prevention of fungi. ... General Name, Symbol, Number arsenic, As, 33 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15, 4, p Appearance metallic gray Atomic mass 74. ... An insecticide is a pesticide whose purpose is to kill or to prevent the multiplication of insects. ... General Name, Symbol, Number chromium, Cr, 24 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 51. ... Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength shorter than that of the visible region, but longer than that of soft X-rays. ... General Name, Symbol, Number arsenic, As, 33 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15, 4, p Appearance metallic gray Atomic mass 74. ... Soil is material capable of supporting plant life. ... A compost bin full of autumn oak leaves Compost is the decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). ... Quaternary clay in Estonia. ... For the battery, see alkaline battery The word alkali can mean:- In chemistry, an alkali is a specific type of base, formed as a carbonate, hydroxide or other ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal element. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in... EPA redirects here. ... The word shingle has several distinct meanings in the English language: Photograph of wood shingles, also called shakes, as used in roofing. ... A foundation is a structure that transmits loads from a building or road to the underlying ground. ... The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is a home improvement retailer that aims for both the do-it-yourself consumer and the professional in home improvement construction. ...

The CCA-treated wood causes concern to the general public. CCA timber is still in widespread use in many countries, and was heavily used during the latter half of the 20th century as a structural, and outdoor building material, where there was a risk of rot, or insect infestation in untreated timber. Although widespread bans followed the publication of studies which showed low-level leaching from in-situ timbers (such as children's playground equipment) into surrounding soil, the most serious risk is presented by the burning of CCA timber. Recent years have seen fatal animal poisonings, and serious human poisonings resulting from the ingestion - directly or indirectly - of wood ash from CCA timber (the lethal human dose is approximately 20 grams of ash - roughly a tablespoon). Scrap CCA construction timber continues to be widely burnt through ignorance, in both commercial, and domestic fires. Safe disposal of CCA timber remains patchy, and little practiced, there is concern in some quarters about the widespread landfill disposal of such timber. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. ... The aviation term ROT stands for rate one turn. ... Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ... Combination playground structure for small children; slides, climbers (stairs in this case), playhouse A playground is an area designed for children to play freely. ... Soil is material capable of supporting plant life. ... Landfill is a waste disposal site for the deposit of the waste onto or into land (i. ...

External links

• Case Studies in Environmental Medicine - Arsenic Toxicity
• Case Studies in Environmental Medicine - Chromium Toxicity
• National Pollutant Inventory - Chromium (III) compounds fact sheet

See also:

• Timber treatment
• Paris Green
• Scheele's Green
• Ammoniacal copper arsenate (ACA)
• Ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA)
• Acid copper chromate (ACC)
• Arsenic-treated wood to be phased out