Pressure-treated wood is the green product that you see used as fence posts, retaining walls, decking and other outdoor structures. Chemicals are added to the wood under high pressure to reduce decay that results from repeated contact with water. Pressure-treated wood materials also resist damage by insects. We don't normally see pressure-treated wood used inside the home because wood inside the home is rarely in continuous contact with water.

The folks that represent the manufacturers of pressure-treated wood products will tell you that they are a blessing to the environment. And, in many ways we agree that they are helpful. But, they must be handled with care; misuse or lack of proper precautions could end up causing serious injury or even death. Why? Because the chemicals that are used to pressure treat wood are poisonous pesticides.

The pressure treatment really does extend the life of wood, and in so doing, reduces the demand on our trees and forests. Millions of trees are saved every year because of chemical treatment. Pressure treating also reduces homeowner maintenance costs when it is used on decks, retaining walls, fences, and the like. The total investment in anything is the price paid times the life span of the purchase.

We see absolutely nothing wrong with using pressure-treated wood as long as the user is well informed about its potential dangers. Two of the most common chemicals used for pressure treating are Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and Ammoniated Copper Zinc Arsenate (ACZA). The following information about CCA and ACZA was approved for publication by the EPA: "Wood treated with inorganic arsenic should be used only where such protection is needed." We understand this to mean that overuse of pesticide-treated wood could be dangerous to the environment. Also: "After working with the pressure-treated wood, and before eating, drinking, and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas face, hands, arms etc., thoroughly." We understand this to mean that working with pressure-treated wood could cause enough poison to be transferred to your hands to make eating dangerous if the poison isn't first washed away.

Why have we mentioned these dangers? Let's imagine that pressure-treated material has been used to build a deck. A child is left unattended playing on the deck and begins to chew on a board, not an uncommon activity for a teething toddler.

NEVER burn treated wood and NEVER breathe the sawdust. As we noted earlier there are several different chemicals used to pressure treat wood. Some are far more dangerous than others, although they all look the same. The better the preservation quality, the stronger the pesticide and the more dangerous the pressure-treated material becomes. For example: Pentachlorophenol is a strong pesticide and is used in commercial applications to treat power poles. It is so powerful that it can be introduced into your system through your skin.

Fortunately every piece of pressure-treated wood must be stamped with a tag that indicates which pesticide, and how much, was used. Remember: the greater the resistance to decay, the more dangerous the pesticide.