We get many queries about the safety of treated pine products – particularly where they are used around vegie gardens.
CCA timber contains copper chromium arsenate and the arsenic part of it scares people. There is no solid evidence that its use in vegie gardens is dangerous for people, but Australian authorities recommend against its use in areas that are touched a lot such as in furniture, in children’s playgrounds etc.
If you are worried about the safety of CCA timber there is a safer alternative called ACQ timber. This is alkaline copper quarternary and is very safe to use.
Or you can use hardwood (i.e. gum tree) timber or plantation grown native cypress – which is relatively expensive to buy.
If you use CCA or even ACQ timber, you might consider painting it with acrylic paint to seal it from the outside world.
Happy vegie gardening.
Hooroo, Don
