Is there any danger to health being in contact with treated landscape timbers?
Question:i know a house built out of landscape timber is there any danger in the timbers if they are treated living there i mean
Answers:
Several problems here.
Treating products used up through the 1990s (maybe even into this century, can't remember the date) used chemicals that can break down and leave an arsenic residue. Arsenic is certainly not good.
If the house is really built from landscape timbers, I would be concerned about the structure. Landscaping timbers generally are not designed for structural use. Often material that has structural defects is used for landscape timbers, so it is never a good idea to build anything substantial from them.
The biggest risk comes with a fire. If they burn, the chemicals certainly will create some health problems for those fighting the fire. Given the quantity that would be involved, may cause some problems for the neighbors as well.
I would not want to live there.
The danger could come if you use treated wood for your fireplace, or compost pile. If you burn it, the process could release arsenic and other toxic materials so you should not use those ashes in your garden.
Termites
Depends on the age. Up until just a few years ago they were primarily treated with arsenic, and I know a guy who built a very elaborate and huge gazebo in his back yard, he got sick, and they could not figure out what was wrong with him. Eventually they discovered he had absorbed a lot of the arsenic from the treated wood. Ended up having to have both feet amputated since the heavy metal settled there.
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