What's wrong with pressure treated wood?

Pressure treated wood is commonly used in picnic tables, decks, playground sets -- basically any outdoor use of lumber.  What few outside of the lumber industry realize, is that 'pressure treated' means the wood is injected with vast amounts of toxic compounds to preserve the wood and kill termites.

The most commonly used wood preservative in the United States used to be chromated copper arsenate (CCA), an insecticide that is 22 percent pure arsenic, a known human carcinogen. As of Jan. 1, 2004. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned chromated copper arsenate (CCA) as a preservative for wood intended for residential use (except for the lumber that is used in permanent wood foundations). CCA-treated lumber will still be available for industrial and agricultural use, however, so be sure to read the labels carefully if you are buying wood for your own project.

The most common replacement for CCA is ACQ (alkaline copper quat), a less toxic organic pesticide. Though the lumber industry maintains that lumber treated with ACQ is safer for children, no one really knows what the long term consequences may be. The manufacturer of our outdoor furniture sees no reason to take a chance, and never uses treated wood.  We couldn't agree more!

White cedar is not only beautiful, but naturally resistant to insects and the elements, a much safer choice for your family.  You can add a finish if you like to maintain the warm color of the wood, or you can leave it alone and it will weather to a beautiful silver.

Read more about the advantages of cedar!

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