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Author(s): Eric Oppong, William Asante Nnuro, Isaac Ofori, Adjei Amaniampong.

Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2021)

Abstract:

The use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood is a common practice. In Ghana, (CCA)-treated woods are used often as utility poles. The siting of these utility poles in the environment may lead to serious health implications as the levels of arsenic, chromium and copper in the environment particularly, in their immediate surrounding become elevated as they are leached out. The objectives of this study were to estimate the levels of As, Cr and Cu in the treated wood, in the soils in the immediate surroundings of the wood and some soils far away from the treated wood products. A series of solvents were also tested for their ability to extract the metals from the treated wood. In all, 5 treated woods consisting of 2 freshly treated and 3 weathered, 2 untreated woods and 10 soil samples were analyzed for their levels of these metals. The wood samples were generated into ash, sawdust and smaller blocks. The levels of the metals in the treated wood samples were significantly higher than in the untreated samples. The average levels of As, Cr and Cu in the weathered wood ash is between (8201.1 mg/kg and 12802.6 mg/kg) and in the freshly treated wood ash between (3102.6 mg/kg and 4050.2 mg/kg). The results of the levels of the metals leached by the four different solvents tested showed the solvent effectiveness to leach out the metals in the order, Sea water < De-ionised water< SPLP <Rain. A particular finding of interest was that the efficiency of extract was also dependent on the leaching time. The Levels of the metals recovered after leaching for 5 days in all samples were highest followed by 3 day and 1 day. The levels of As, Cr and Cu were also found to be highest in soils around the in-service CCA treated utility poles with the maximum amount of 8.9 mg/kg for As, 47 mg/kg for Cr and 89.8 mg/kg for Cu.

Keywords:

Metal Leaching, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), Treated Wood, Environment

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