Re: NANFA-- Above ground pond

Joshua L Wiegert (jlw_at_dune.net)
Fri, 26 Mar 2004 12:14:27 -0500

In so much as I. R. is not planning on eating his fish (as far as I know. :)
I don't think he needs worry about his own health from using the PT wood.
Since the pond water should only occassionally come in contact with the wood
(a sloshing here, a spill there), I can't imagine that the chemicals would
even enter the water in significant quantities.

The threat of PT wood is ... well, kind of silly. As you pointe dout in
this study, and as others have found, the chemicals from PT wood are not
that bad. They're minimal, and laughable compared to PCBs, automobile
exhaust, that fruit cake I keep getting every christmas.... (The reason
they're banning them, if I recall correctly, is not environmental health....
THe concern is that if a child playing on the deck or swing set shoudl get a
splinter, and not remove it promptly, the chemicals can cause problems. I
don't even know how realistic a concern this is -- it may very well be a big
one, and I won't comment on it. I suggest to IR that he not get any
splinters. :)

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Rego" <mummichog_at_naisp.net>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- Above ground pond




> Hello All,
>
>     While researching some information a couple of years back in regards
to
> using pressure-treated timber in the construction of raised-bed vegetable
> gardens, a study (I believe done in Arizona) showed that over a period of
> years, the chemicals used in the preservative only migrated less than 1/2
an
> inch into the soil that was contacting the pressure-treated surfaces.
>     The bottom-line was that they found the migration/contamination to be
of
> little significance, as the natural chemical and biological make-up of the
> soil would actually breakdown some of the chemicals into harmless
compounds.
>     I would assume that the pressure-treated wood would actually have to
> contact the pond water in order to cause a problem, and then, for an
> extended period of time.  However, frequent water changes _should_ remove
> any dangerous compounds.
>
> Rick Rego.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Scott Davis" <unclescott_at_prodigy.net>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 10:26 AM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- Above ground pond
>
>
> > A lot of these pressurized timbers are treated with either CCA
(chromated
> > copper arsenate), followed by ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate) and
> ACQ
> > (ammoniacal copper quat). All three preservatives are waterborne
> > preservatives. These timbers shed their contents very slowly and have
been
> > applauded for limiting cutting of forest products since they last a lot
> > longer than untreated timbers. Some gardeners are cautious about using
> them
> > around food producing plants.
> >
> > As of January 1, 2004, EPA will not allow CCA products to be used to
treat
> > wood intended for any residential uses such as play-structures, decks,
> > picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and
> > walkways/boardwalks.
> > http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/cca_transition.htm
> >
> > Should we use them where they might bleed into a pond? I also wonder if
we
> > should be tossing them into compost piles. :)
> >
> > I'm probably at greater risk standing near bus exhaust. Is concern about
> > pressure treated timbers unnecessarilly alarmist when considering their
> > impact on ponds or streams?
> >
> > Thanks and all the best!
> > Scott
> >
> > > I have a friend who's grandfather built a swingset using pressure
> treated
> > > 2x4s.  When he got a little old for the swingset, it was broken down
and
> > > tossed behind the shed, where it eventually became buried in compost,
> > > leaves, etc. etc.
> > >
> > > My friend is now old enough to have grandkids of his own (he doesn't,
> but
> > > that's not the point. :)  He recently decided that the 50 year old
shed
> > had
> > > to go, to be replaced with a new one.  When digging out the soil
behind
> > the
> > > old shed... he found the pressure treated 2x4s, still in usable, good
> > > condition.
> --
> > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> > / Association"
> > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
> Association
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> > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
> > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page,
> http://www.nanfa.org

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> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> / Association"
> / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
Association
> / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
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http://www.nanfa.org
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/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org