Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 13:55:56 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM> Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM> From: Greg Downing <gregdowning@MINDSPRING.COM> Subject: Re: Arsenic Treated lumber in bird houses? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Denise, As a builder I have always made my clients aware of this issue and it's = an eye opener to me when someone like you is just finding this out. I = ignorantly assume that it is common knowledge because I know it. I wish = I had some ideas of how to get the word out concerning this issue, but I = suppose just posting here is a start. FWIW I build a lot of bird houses = and feeders for my own use and as gifts for friends and family. I use, = and recommend using, only naturally decay resistant wood such as cedar, = redwood and cypress. Of course you can use woods like pine and fir but = it just wont last as long. I also do not recommend using ANY stain or = paint inside or outside of your houses or feeders. Birds pick and chew = anywhere, as do squirrels.=20 When it comes to decks and landscaping ties etc. It is an issue with = children and birds and leaching into the soil etc. As the wood is = exposed to the weather the chemicals get washed from the surface (and of = course into the ground but in very small amounts) and contact with the = surface of the wood becomes less of an issue. I have a treated wood deck = on my house but it is built with recycled treated wood that is about 15 = years old and I don't have a concern about it. Also, it is illegal to = use these types of "treated" wood when in contact with any body of = water. Anyway, I am rambling but you get the idea.=20 To sum up: In my view there should be a big sign in every home center = that sells treated wood, making people aware of the potential dangers. = This should be directly over every pile of treated lumber. Thanks, ________________ Greg Downing Manchester, MD NPN Field Editor/Avian Gallery Moderator www.naturephotographers.net gregdowning@mindspring.com http://gregdowning.imageculture.com (portfolio) www.gdphotography.com ----- Original Message -----=20 From: "Denise Ryan" <Denise_Ryan@LCV.ORG> To: <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 1:18 PM Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Arsenic Treated lumber in bird houses? > A terrible situation has just been brought to my attention that I = thought > would interest all of you as well. > Most pressure treated wood is treated is arsenic that can rub off onto = skin > or perhaps feathers. There are more details in the web link > http://www.ewg.org/news/story.php?id=3D315 and in the news story at = the end of > this email. Some zoos have even stopped using this kind of wood for = fear of > harming the animals. I have never seen mention of using non-treated = wood > for bird houses. >=20 > At first I was concerned about arsenic leaching out of back yard decks = into > ponds and creeks, but then I also thought about the vulnerable chicks > exposed to such a high level of toxin in bird houses. Any thoughts = about > how we can share this with the community? >=20 > News Story Below >=20 > Denise Ryan > League of Conservation Voters > Washington, DC >=20 > ********************************************************************** >=20 > Dangerous arsenic levels in lumber, groups report >=20 > Gannett News Service > Nov. 08, 2001 >=20 > WASHINGTON - Most of the wood Americans buy at home-improvement stores = to > build decks and backyard play areas is treated with dangerously high = levels > of arsenic, a new report from environmental and consumer groups says. >=20 > Tests of wood purchased from 13 Home Depot stores and five Lowe's Home > Improvement Warehouse stores in 13 metropolitan areas revealed unsafe = levels > of the poison, according to the study from the non-profit = Environmental > Working Group and the Healthy Building Network. >=20 > The arsenic levels of the wood ranged from 18 to 1,020 micrograms. The > Environmental Protection Agency recently determined that 10 micrograms = is a > safe standard for drinking water. >=20 > Children who touch arsenic-treated wood on decks, picnic tables and > playground equipment are at greater risk of ingesting the poison than = adults > because they often put their fingers and hands into their mouths, the = report > says. Children also can absorb arsenic through their skin. >=20 > Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause lung, bladder and skin cancer, > according to the National Academy of Sciences. >=20 > "If consumers knew the dangers, they would never bring this wood home = to > their families," said Richard Wiles, senior vice president of the > Environmental Working Group. >=20 > Spokesmen for Home Depot and Lowe's said the stores buy wood that = meets > guidelines set by the EPA, which is reviewing the cancer risks to = children > of arsenic-treated wood. >=20 > "We buy lumber only from reputable vendors, all certified by the = federal > government," said Chris Ahearn, Lowe's director of public relations. = "As > retailers, we often receive conflicting information about the safety = of > treated lumber. We rely on the information we receive from the federal > government, the EPA." >=20 > EPA reviews have shown arsenic-treated wood to be safe when used = properly, > Home Depot spokesman Ron Jarvis said. >=20 > Arsenic is injected into the wood as a preservative that protects = against > insect infestation and exposure to the elements. Arsenic-treated = lumber is > used to build more than 90 percent of all outdoor wooden structures in = the > United States, the report says. >=20 > Public-interest groups say that arsenic-free preservatives would work = just > as well, although they are costlier. >=20 > Ahearn and Jarvis said not enough suppliers of arsenic-free wood are > available to serve large chains. >=20 > = =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to = listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > = =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D >=20 ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================