Burning PTL

[Harry K]

Geez, I had forgotten about her. Seems to be nothing but a troll then.

Harry K

[John T. Howard]

I've always heard that you should not burn pressure treated lumber, but never why. Now I have a large pile of PTL that I have to burn or pay to plant in the landfill. What is the reason not to burn?

Thanks, John

[johnny]

This gal used to post in alt.building.construction, she was/is on a mission to eliminate CCA wood. Her campaign obviously had an effect, because you can not buy CCA for residential use any longer. She claims/claimed health problems as a result of her neighbor constantly burning CCA treated wood. Here's what a Google search turned up with her name and PT lumber.

[Doug Miller]

Burning it releases the chemicals that were used in treating it into the air. If you breathe the fumes, it's not good for you. Older PT lumber used CCA (chromated copper arsenate); burning that crap releases arsenic. The newer stuff (AC2) is IIRC a chromium and copper compound, without the arsenic. Chromium isn't as bad for you as arsenic, but it's not too good either.

Do a Google search on burning pressure treated lumber. You'll find a lot of good information, and a little bit of hysteria.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt. And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

[HeyBub]

I'd burn it. But if you're uncomfortable with that, instead of hauling it to a dump, take it to a schoolyard. At night.

[Stormin Mormon]

I read that subject line, and thought someone was going to light Tammy Faye on fire. From the PTL 700 club....

[tm]

Arsenic.

[Andy Hill]

Naw, take it to a daycare center. The tots just l-o-v-e to use PT lumber pieces as teethers. Just be sure to wash it off -- don't want no nasty germs hurting the kiddos.

[Duane Bozarth]

Ed Clarke wrote: ....

You have any documentation/citation for that claim? I'd be real surprised to hear of any that were specifically CCA-caused that wouldn't have also occurred w/ non-CCA material from CO, for example.

[Ed Clarke]

Old PT lumber is known as CCA... the A is arsenic. If you burn it, the arsenic is going to end up in the smoke. People have died by burning this stuff in a woodstove.

[Chris Lewis]

CCA contains arsenic. Burning CCA creates trace quantities of AsH3 (Arsine). Arsine is rather hideously toxic.

[Stormin Mormon]

Log onto

type into the search engine "pressure treated wood arsenic" and click search.

[tm]

You guys are sick. PTL can be recycled for use in syphilis treatment, pest control and glass making.

[tm]

Wow. And here i thought they were just goofing on you for being simple.