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Coal tar creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in
the United States. Wood pressure treated with creosote is
primarily used in railroad ties, utility poles, and piling. It
is also used for timbers in highway bridges and guard posts,
as well as for marine use in bulkheads, docks, seawalls, etc.
It is not uncommon for individuals to use creosote treated
railroad ties in landscapes.
The Environmental Protection Agency-approved Consumer
Information Sheet (CIS) gives specific instructions on the safe
use and handling of the product. When these instructions are
followed, pressure-treated creosote products can be and are used
safely. The CIS states, “The wood has been preserved by pressure treatment with an
EPA-registered pesticide containing creosote to protect it from
insect attack and decay. Wood treated with creosote should be
used only where such protection is important.”
Creosote penetrates deeply into and remains in the
pressure-treated wood for a long time. Exposure to creosote may
present certain hazards. Therefore, precautions
should be taken both when handling the treated wood and in
determining where to use the treated wood.
Wood treated with creosote should not be used where it will
be in frequent or prolonged contact with bare skin (for example,
chairs and other outdoor furniture) unless an effective sealer
has been applied. When handling treated wood,
wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use gloves
impervious to the chemicals. Creosote-treated wood should not be
used in residential interiors.
Do not use creosote-treated wood under circumstances where
the preservative may become a component of food or drinking
water. Do not use treated wood for cutting-boards or
counter-tops.
Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves,
fireplaces, or residential boilers, because toxic chemicals may
be produced as part of the smoke and ashes.
Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from
treated wood. When sawing and machining treated wood, wear a
dust mask. Whenever possible, these operations should be
performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations of airborne
sawdust from treated wood. When power-sawing and machining, wear
goggles to protect eyes from flying particles. After working
with wood, and before eating, drinking, and use of tobacco
products, wash exposed areas thoroughly. If oily preservatives
or sawdust accumulate on clothes, launder before reuse. Wash
work clothes separately from other household clothing.
For additional information, go to the
EPA web site at Office
of Pesticide
Programs.
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