Is pressure treated wood safe?An article in the Wyoming State Forester’s Newsletter indicates yes, pressure treated wood is quite safe to use.Wood is pressure treated to enhance resistance to decay, termites and other wood destroying agents.Pressure treated wood used around our homes for decks, fences, etc. is treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA).Yes, this is a form of arsenic, but it is in such small amounts that it posses negligible risks to humans or pets.
During an eight-year investigation, theEPA examined CCA itself, the treatment process, the use and handling of the finished product and alternatives to the use of CCA.None
of the EPA’s investigations produced any findings showing increased
risks of cancer or other toxic effects on humans handling CCA treated
wood.Thus, the benefits far outweigh any risks associated with CCA treated wood.I’ll guarantee you that in this part of the world, wood that is used for posts won’t last long unless it’s pressure treated.
