How long do the chemicals (and therefore the hazards) remain in pressure treated lumber that was treated with arsenic and chromium? Does this wood remain forever poisoned or do the chemicals lessen or leach out of the wood over time?
Does this wood remain forever poisoned or do the chemicals lessen or leach out of the wood over time?
yup, right back into the ground, or your lawn, or your veggies. Remember too: there are different grades of PT: that rated for ground contact and that not. I haven't checked but I'd bet the ground stuff is good and saturated.
Lifespan: greatly effected by whether cut-ends are protected. Ever seen old rotted PT -- it usually rots from the middle out -- becaues the manu process pushes the chems _in_ and doesn't get the chems into 100% of the wood. (Maybe there's a grade of PT now that _does_ do 100% -- be nice esp. for 6x6s).
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