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Arsenic Timber Treatments
Two types of chemicals are used in arsenic timber treatments, copper chrome arsenate (CCA) and arsenic trioxide.
CCA is a preservative used to prevent insects, wood rot and wood fungus damaging timber and timber structures. It is used to treat wood intended for outdoor use, such as telegraph poles, fence palings, in landscaping and in building structures. CCA products are restricted chemical products (RCP) and may only be used by accredited people who are trained in the use of these products to impregnate timber.
Arsenic trioxide dust is used by licensed pest control operators (authorised under state or territory legislation) for the post-construction control of termites around buildings.
Arsenic timber treatments review
Status: review completed
The APVMA reviewed arsenic based timber treatments following concerns for the health of people coming into contact with the arsenic in treated timber structures.
In March 2005 the APVMA released the Arsenic Timber Treatments Review Final Report. The APVMA cancelled the use of CCA for treating timber destined for garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating, children’s play equipment, patio and domestic decking, and handrails. Timber treated with CCA must be clearly labelled as such and can only be used in situations in which people will not come into regular contact with it.
The APVMA also recommended new instructions on CCA product labels for timber treatment operations, waste management and disposal, and the protection of the environment. Read a full history of the review...
The APVMA has the authority to regulate the CCA products used to treat timber but does not have the power to control how people use the structures made from CCA-treated timber.
Arsenic trioxide used correctly should not cause harmful effects to people as the treated areas of timber are covered after application.
For more information please contact the Chemical Review Program on (02) 6210 4749 or by email to chemrev@apvma.gov.au
Review report |
Date |
| Arsenic Timber Treatments Final Report: Review Summary (PDF - 715KB) Introduction (PDF - 74KB) Toxicological Assessment (PDF - 561KB) Environmental Assessment (PDF - 2.5MB) |
Mar 2005 |
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