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Current Trends Follow-Up on Pentachlorophenol in Log Homes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued
a
position document proposing regulations to reduce the human health
risks resulting from use of creosote, inorganic arsenic compounds,
and
pentachlorophenol (PCP or penta) for wood preservation (1,2).
Evidence cited in support of the proposed regulations included that
from studies that showed elevated serum and urine PCP levels among
residents of log homes that were treated with 5% PCP in organic
solvents (3).
For home and farm use of PCP (and creosote), EPA proposes
prohibiting indoor application and application to wood that is
intended for interior use or for uses that might result in
contamination of animals, food, feed, or water. For log houses and
buildings, this can be interpreted as a proposed ban on treating
logs
with PCP before construction (1).*
Not all log-home manufacturers pretreat logs with wood
preservatives at the factory. Also, many manufacturers have
changed
from PCP to other wood preservatives (such as
copper-8-quinolinolate). To reduce PCP exposure among residents of
PCP-treated log homes, CDC has suggested that interior log walls be
treated with a sealer such as polyurethane (3). Such organic-base
sealers have an efficacy of 90%-95% in reducing PCP vaporization
under
laboratory conditions (4). A water-base solution (Permatox
Pentite)**
intended to reduce PCP vaporization from logs has been developed
recently and is being marketed at this time. CDC is currently
compiling information on the efficacy of these products to reduce
PCP
exposure among log-home residents.
Reported by P Cammer, Special Pesticide Review Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency; Chronic
Diseases
Div, Clinical Laboratory Div, Center for Environmental Health, CDC.
References
Environmental Protection Agency. Wood preservatives
pesticides.
Creosote, inorganic and the pentachlorophenol arsenicals (wood
uses). Position Document 2/3. Office of Pesticide Programs,
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. January 1981.
Creosote, pentachlorophenol and the inorganic arsenicals:
Preliminary notice of determination concluding the rebuttable
presumption against registration of the wood preservative uses
of
pesticide products; Notice of Availability of Position Document
2/3. Federal Register 1981;13,020-36.
CDC. Pentachlorophenol in log homes--Kentucky. MMWR
1980;29:431-2, 437.
Ingram LL, McGinnis GD, Deist WC. Effect of selected finishes
on
the vaporization of pentachlorophenol from treated wood.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi: Forest Products
Utilization Laboratory (Information Series no. 21), 23 July
1980.
**Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply
endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
*Further information on these wood preservatives and copies of the
Position Document can be obtained from the Office of Pesticide
Programs, EPA. Address inquiries to Ms. Joan Warshawsky, Section
Head, Special Pesticide Review Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs,
EPA (TS-791), Room 711 B, Crystal Mall II, 1921 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22209 (203-557-7460).
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