Progress 11/17/03 to 11/17/08
Outputs
Conventional preservative systems, as well as copper-based CCA alternatives, face increasing environmental pressures. Environmental concerns for existing preservatives need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized. Development of new environmentally compatible wood protection systems are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides. In-place remedial treatments improve the service life of historic structures. This problem area was terminated as part of a reorganization of work units at the Forest Products Laboratory.
Impacts
New environmentally compatible preservatives are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides. Conventional preservative systems, as well as copper-based CCA alternatives, will face increasing environmental pressures. Environmental concerns for existing preservatives need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Essential oils, typically used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, were evaluated for their ability to inhibit mold on wood. Thyme and Egyptian geranium oils were very effective mold inhibitors as surface treatments (i.e., brushed, dipped, or sprayed) on southern pine. Dill weed oil also effectively inhibited mold growth, but only in the vaporous phase suggesting that it might be suitable as a fumigant for stored building materials. Biopreservatives, natural compounds produced by food-grade bacteria, have been shown to inhibit mold fungi in laboratory tests, with the most promising biopreservatives produced by cultures of Lactobacillus. In a cooperative study with Korea Forest Research Institute and Oregon State University, an analytical method to detect 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons was developed and used to analyze creosote migration from freshly treated wood immersed in fresh water. Creosote component levels declined sharply after initial exposure
to undetectable levels within 7 days. These data provide the experimental foundation for the development of mathematical models to predict emissions from creosote-treated wood into the aquatic environment. Various hardwoods and softwoods were evaluated for their ability to resist damage by native subterranean termites compared to southern yellow pine and Douglas-fir treated with copper organic preservatives. Tropical woods (e.g., Erisma and Ipe) and native woods (e.g., juniper and white cedar) were highly resistant to termite attack. The results of this study showed that selected naturally durable wood species, both tropical and native, inhibited subterranean termites as effectively as preservative treatments. A novel remediation method developed by FPL scientists uses a metal tolerant bacterium to remove copper, chromium and arsenic from treated wood so that the "cleaned" wood can be reused, thus reducing the risk of environmental contamination. This method was successfully scaled up
in a fermentor and shown to remove 83 to 95% of CCA components from flaked wood. The remediated flakes, which were fabricated into flakeboard panels with phenol-formaldehyde resin, showed insignificant differences in strength properties compared to flakeboard panels made from untreated wood.
Impacts
New environmentally compatible preservatives are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides. Conventional preservative systems, as well as copper-based CCA alternatives, will face increasing environmental pressures. Environmental concerns for existing preservatives need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized.
Publications
- Clausen, C.A.; Muehl, J.H.; Krzysik, A.M. 2006. Properties of structural panels fabricated from bioremediated CCA-treated wood: Pilot scale. Forest Products Journal 56(3): 32-35.
- Freeman, M.H.; Crawford, D.; Lebow, P.; Brient, J.A. 2005. A comparison of wood preservatives in posts in southern Mississippi (an update to FPL-01) [Abstract]. In: Proceedings, one hundred first annual meeting of the american wood-preservers' association; 2005 May 15-17; New Orleans, LA. Birmingham, AL: American Wood-Preservers' Assocation: Vol. 101: 1 p. Illman, B.L.; Yang, V.W. 2006. Bioremediation of treated wood with fungi. In: Townsend, Timothy G.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena, eds. Environmental impacts of treated wood. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis: 413-426. Chapter 23.
- Woodward, B.; Lebow, S.; Crawford, D. 2005. Efficacy of borax-copper treatments against Formosan subterranean termites in Hawaii [Abstract]. In: Proceedings, one hundred first annual meeting of the american wood-preservers' association; 2005 May 15-17; New Orleans, LA. Birmingham, AL: American Wood-Preservers' Association: Vol. 101: 1 p.
- Yang, V.W.; Clausen, C.A. 2005. Determining the suitability of Lactobacilli antifungal metabolites mould growth. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology 21: 977-981.
- Yang, V.W.; Clausen, C.A. 2006. Moldicidal properties of seven essential oils. In: 37th Annual meeting international research group on wood protection; 2006 June 18-22; Tromso, Norway. Doc IRG/WP 06-30404. Stockholm, Sweden: IRG Secretarial: 12 p.
- Arango, R.A.; Green III, F.; Hintz, K.; Lebow, P.K.; Miller, R.B. 2006. Natural durability of tropical and native woods against termite damage by Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 57: 146-150.
- Clausen, C.A. 2006. Bioremediation of treated wood with bacteria. In: Townsend, Timothy G.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena, eds. Environmental impacts of treated wood. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis: 401-411. Chapter 22.
- Crawford, D.; Lebow, S.; West, M.; Abbott, B. 2005. Permanence and diffusion of borax-copper hydroxide remedial preservative applied to unseasoned pine posts: 20 year update. In: Proceedings, one hundred first annual meeting of the american wood-preservers' association; 2005 May 15-17; New Orleans, LA. Birmingham, AL: American Wood-Preservers' Association: Vol. 101: 94-102.
- Illman, B.L.; Yang, V.W. 2006. Bioremediation of treated wood with fungi. In: Townsend, Timothy G.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena, eds. Environmental impacts of treated wood. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis: 413-426. Chapter 23.
- Kang, S.; Morrell, J.J.; Simonsen, J.; Lebow, S. 2005. Creosote movement from treated wood immersed in fresh water. Forest Products Journal 55(12): 42-46.
- Lebow, P.; Ziobro, R.; Sites, L.; Schultz, T.; Pettry, D.; Nicholas, D.; Lebow, S.; Kamdem, P.; Fox, R.; Crawford, D. 2006. Statistical analysis of influence of soil source on leaching of arsenic and copper from CCA-C treated wood. Wood and Fiber Science 38(3): 439-449.
- Lebow, S.T.; Cooper, P.A.; Lebow, P.K. 2006. Study design considerations in evaluating environmental impacts. In: Townsend, Timothy G.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena, eds. Environmental impacts of treated wood. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press: 78-99. Chapter 5.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Long term efficacy of new mold-inhibiting biocide systems based on borates and azoles showed that individual components of the multi-component system act synergistically, exhibit low mammalian toxicity, and are environmentally benign. Such systems have the potential for protecting wood-based construction materials from mold establishment. Biopreservatives, natural compounds with anti-microbial properties, are being evaluated to determine if the same anti-microbial properties that inhibit mold fungi in the laboratory will protect wood. A feasibility study of ionic silver salts for inhibition of brown-rot fungi, termites, and mold showed that silver nitrate and silver periodate caused 100% termite mortality, and silver nitrate inhibited mold fungi. Periodate in the silver periodate salt was responsible for moderate inhibition of decay fungi. The spread of Formosan subterranean termites in the southern United States has increased public interest in preservative
treatments to protect framing lumber from termite attack. The use of borates against Formosan subterranean termites (FST) was evaluated using a borax-copper preservative that is currently used for remedial treatment of the groundline area of utility poles. Specimens were exposed above ground at an active FST site in Hilo, HI. The borax-copper treatment provided good protection of southern pine, but protection of Douglas-fir was variable at all retentions tested.
Impacts
New environmentally compatible preservatives are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides. Conventional preservative systems, as well as copper-based CCA alternatives, will face increasing environmental pressures. Environmental concerns for existing preservatives need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized.
Publications
- Lebow, S.; Woodward, Bessie; Crawford, Douglas; Abbott, William. 2005. Resistance of borax-copper treated wood in aboveground exposure to attack by Formosan subterranean termites. Res. Note FPL-RN-0295. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 4 p.
- Clausen, C.A. 2005. Removing heavy metals from treated wood. In: FS-827, Research and Development 2004 Annual Report, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 2005 July: 40-41.
- Green, F. 2005. Finding a new cure for termites. In: FS-827, Research and Development 2004 Annual Report, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 2005 July: 42.
- Clausen, Carol A.; Yang, Vina W. 2005. Azole-based antimycotic agents inhibit mold on unseasoned pine. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 55: 99-102.
- Dorau, Benjamin; Arango, Rachel; Green III, Frederick. 2004. An investigation into the potential of ionic silver as a wood preservative. In: Proceedings from the woodframe housing durability and disaster issues conference, Woodframe housing durability and disaster issues; 2004 October 4-6; Las Vegas, NV. Madison, WI: Forest Products Society: 133-135.
- Clausen, Carol A.; Yang, Vina W. 2004. Curbing indoor mold growth with mold inhibitors. In: Proceedings from the woodframe housing durability and disaster issues conference, Woodframe housing and durability and disaster issues; 2004 October 4-6; Las Vegas, NV. Madison, WI: Forest Products Society: 303-306.
- Yang, Vina W.; Clausen, Carol A. 2004. Antifungal metabolites of lactobacilli. In: Proceedings from the woodframe housing durability and disaster issues conference, Woodframe housing and durability and disaster issues; 2004 October 4-6; Las Vegas, NV. Madison, WI: Forest Products Society: 307-311.
- Clausen, Carol A.; Yang, Vina W. 2005. Long-term efficacy of wood dip-treated with multicomponent biocides. In: 36th International research group on wood protection; 2005 April 24-28; Bangalore, India. Doc IRG/WP 05-30379. Stockholm, Sweden: IRG Secretariat: 7 p.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/29/04
Outputs
Arsenic-free preservative systems that have been standardized by the American Wood Preservers' Association are available as replacements for CCA. As the treated wood industry evolves, a wider range of preservative types and retentions will likely become available, with treatments tailored to specific applications. With new restrictions on the use of CCA treated lumber, evaluation of the natural durability of native and tropical wood species is of renewed interest. Some naturally durable tropical and native wood species were shown to inhibit subterranean termites as effectively as preservative treatment with copper borate, copper naphthenate, and N,N-naphthaloylhydroxylamine (NHA). A patent has been issued that utilizes naphthalenic compounds as termite bait toxicants. A number of leaching studies evaluated the potential impact of preservatives on the environment. Detectable migration of creosote-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) occurs during first
exposure to hot weather. Following the first season, vertical and horizontal migration was shown to be statistically insignificant. Leaching studies on a new non-metal preservative, NHA, show that leaching can be reduced by precipitation with inorganic ions and increased concentrations of NHA during pressure treatment. Natural and semi-synthetic polymers and calcium precipitating agents are being studied to reduce the leachability of boron. A review on preservative leaching and environmental accumulation discusses variables such as wood properties, pressure treatment techniques, construction practices, exposure conditions, and site conditions. Soil levels of arsenic, copper, and chromium adjacent to matched stakes treated with CCA and exposed in Mississippi and Wisconsin test sites for 22 years showed that site differences appear to affect the pattern of accumulation of CCA components in the soil. Inclusion of a water-repellent additive in CCA treatment reduced leaching of copper and
chromium but, in most cases, arsenic leaching was greater. Finishing decking with a semi-transparent water-repellent stain, latex paint, or oil-based paint greatly reduces the leaching of arsenic, copper, and chromium. Exposure of CCA-treated wood to UV radiation caused a significant increase in leaching from both finished and unfinished specimens. Migration of iron and manganese into CCA-treated wood in soil contact resulted in an error in leaching results when using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry resulting in a possible need to modify AWPA method A9-01.
Impacts
Conventional preservatives, as well as the newer copper-based systems, will face increasing environmental pressures. If the use of these existing preservatives is to continue, their environmental concerns need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized. Additionally, new environmentally compatible preservatives are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides.
Publications
- Arango, R.A.; Green III, F.; Hintz, K.; Miller, R.B. 2004. Evaluating the natural durability of native and tropical wood species against Reticulitermes flavipes. In: Proceedings, 35th International research group on wood preservation; 2004 June 6-11; Ljubljana, Slovenia. DOC IRG/WP 04-10539. Stockholm, Sweden: IRG Secretariat: 10 p.
- Brooks, Kenneth M. 2004. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon migration from creosote-treated railway ties into ballast and adjacent wetlands. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-617. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 53 p.
- Kartal, S.N.; Green, F. 2004. Leachability of boron from wood treated with natural and semi-synthetic polymers and calcium precipitating agent. Kurtz-Originalia-Brief Originals. Holz als Roh- und Werkstroff 61: 388-389.
- Lebow, S.; Williams, R.S.; Lebow, P. 2004. Effect of simulated rainfall and weathering on release of preservative elements from CCA treated wood. Environ. Sci. Technol. 37:4077-4082.
- Ropjas, Maria Guadalupe; Morales-Ramos, Juan A.; Green III, Frederick. The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, assignee. 2004. Naphthalenic compounds as termite bait toxicants, USPTO patent full-text and image database. U.S. Patent 6,691,453. February 17. Int. Cl. A01M 013/00. U.S. Cl. 43/124 424/84. 10 p.
- Schultz, Tor P.; Nicholas, Darrel D.; Lebow, Stan. 2004. Migration of iron and manganese into CCA-treated wood in soil contact and the resulting error in leaching results when using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometers. Forest Products Journal 53(9):77-80.
- Kartal, S. Nami; Dorau, Ben F.; Lebow, Stan T.; Green III, Frederick. 2004. Effects of inorganic ions on leachability of wood preserving N'N-hydroxylnaphthalimide (NHA). Forest Products Journal 54(2):80-84.
- Lebow, S. 2004. Alternatives to chromated copper arsenate for residential construction. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-618. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 9 p.
- Lebow, S.; Winandy, J.; Bender, D. 2004. Treated wood in transition: A look at CCA and the candidates to replace it. Frame Building News 15(5):32-38.
- Lebow, S.; Cooper, P.; Lebow, P. 2004. Variability in evaluating environmental impacts of treated wood. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-620. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 10 p.
- Lebow, S.; Fisher, D.; Evans. J. 2004. Long-term soil accumulation of chromium, copper, and arsenic adjacent to preservative-treated wood. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 72:225-232.
- Lebow, S.; Foster, D.; Lebow, P. 2004. Rate of CCA leaching from commercially treated decking. Forest Products Journal 54(2):81-88.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
With new restrictions on the use of CCA treated lumber, copper-based preservatives are the current commercial treatments for wood in residential applications. As a result, the efficacy against copper-based fungi is of great importance. Recent research revealed that oxalic acid production by copper-tolerant brown-rot fungi occurred rapidly in southern yellow pine blocks treated with four waterborne copper-based preservatives. Oxine copper, a nickel-containing oilborne preservative, was found to inhibit both decay capacity and oxalic acid metabolism in the copper-tolerant fungi tested. In tests involving 15 brown-rot fungi, rapid induction of oxalic acid appeared to correlate closely with copper tolerance. In response to the EPA-industry agreement to restrict the use of CCA treated wood, existing efforts to facilitate the introduction of more environmentally friendly wood preservatives were intensified. Future restrictions may require the use of totally organic wood
preservatives. One option for reducing the costs of such treatments is the combination of organic biocides with non-biocidal additives for enhanced efficacy. Selected laboratory and field exposure tests were conducted on various such combinations and discussed in a chapter in an ACS publication. A FAQ on wood preservation and related topics was posted to the FPL web site to address needs of public inquirers. Publications included the final compilation of stake test results for pressure and nonpressure preservative treatments. Stakes have been installed and evaluated in decay and termite exposure sites since 1938. The main site is maintained with the cooperation of the Harrison Experimental Forest at Saucier, MS. In response to Congressional interests, an initial feasibility study was made on silver-based preservative treatments.
Impacts
Conventional preservatives, as well as the newer copper-based systems, will face increasing environmental pressures. If the use of these existing preservatives is to continue, their environmental concerns need to be addressed and their environmental impacts minimized. In addition, new more environmentally compatible preservatives are needed to replace conventional broad-spectrum pesticides.
Publications
- Clausen, Carol A.; Green, Frederick. 2003. Oxalic acid overproduction by copper-tolerant brown-rot basidiomycetes on southern yellow pine treated with copper-based preservatives. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 51: 139-144.
- Green, Frederick III; Clausen, Carol A. 2003. Copper tolerance of brown-rot fungi: time course of oxalic acid production. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 51: 145-149.
- Green, Frederick III; Schultz, Tor P. 2003. New environmentally-benign concepts in wood protection: the combination of organic biocides and non-biocidal additives. In: Goodell, Barry; Nicholas, Darrel D.; Schultz, Tor P., eds., Wood deterioration and preservation, advances in our changing world. ACS Symposium Series 845. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society: Chapter 23: 378-389.
- Crawford, D. M.; Woodward, B. M.; Hatfield, C. A., comps. 2002. Comparison of wood preservatives in stake tests-2000 progress report. Res. Note FPL-RN-02. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 120 p.
- White, Robert H. 2003. Frequently asked questions for wood preservation and related topics. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/pres_fire/Preservation_FAQ.htm.
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