Smaller Copper Particles, Smaller Environmental Impact for Treated Wood

EBN

Vol. 15, No. 8). To replace them, the companies took what had been the third ingredient, copper, multiplied its concentration by about four, and added some nonmetallic pesticides. The resultant products, ammonium copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper azole, are less hazardous but still have problems: impacts from copper extraction and processing, disposal, and leaching of copper that can harm aquatic organisms. With a recent change in how it delivers the copper into the wood, Osmose, one of the major chemical treatment companies, claims that its MicroPro Smart Sense treated wood offers environmental benefits over competing products.