Where does it Wood product manufacturing and other CCA timber preservation Main sources come from? processes. Chemical/ physical treatment to immobilise the hazard, then the stabilised material is usually disposed of in hazardous waste landfill. How is it Main fates managed? Some reuse and recycling of CCA timber itself occurs and significant stockpiling may occur1. <1% 1 5% 5 10% 10 20% 20% – – – ≥ Volume score (% of national Includes CCA chemical wastes does not include – tonnes in 2013) 0.01% How much is intact CCA treated timber generated in TOTAL: 570 ACT: 0 NSW: 9 Australia? Waste arising in NT: 0 Qld: 206 SA: 304 2013 (tonnes) Tas: 0 Vic: 31 WA: 20 Chromium (VI), as the potential worst case constituent of CCA treatment wastes, has been chosen to reference specific health impacts for this waste. The most common hazards of human Overview exposure to Cr (VI) compounds are irritation of the skin, eyes, mouth, throat, lungs and intestines. Acute poisoning, through inhalation, can result in death. Cr (VI) is carcinogenic via inhalation. Extreme: Very toxic and may be fatal by inhalation. Toxic if Acute toxicity swallowed or in contact with skin contact causes severe skin burns – and allergic reactions and severe eye damage. Potential health Low: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated impacts exposure if inhaled, but the consequences of acute effects will be most severe. Chronic toxicity On the skin, chromic acid can cause chronic ulcers known as ‘chrome holes’. High: Classified as evidence of carcinogenicity in “sufficient Carcinogenicity and inhaled hexavalent chromium is a known human humans” carcinogen. Particularly with respect to lung cancer. Reproductive High: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child and may toxicity cause genetic defects. Exposure to CCA impregnation solutions could arise as the result of splashes or as Workplace contaminated dust or wood fragments/ shavings. Occupational exposure to hexavalent health & safety chromium has been associated with lung cancer and arsenic is also classed as a human impacts carcinogen. Population There has been ongoing media and public interest in the use of CCA-treated timber and scale impacts the possible health risks it may present, particularly when used in settings where children
Where does it come from? Main sources Wood product manufacturing and other CCA timber preservation processes. How is it managed? Main fates Chemical/ physical treatment to immobilise the hazard, then the stabilised material is usually disposed of in hazardous waste landfill. Some reuse and recycling of CCA timber itself occurs and significant stockpiling may occur1. How much is generated in Australia? Volume score (% of national tonnes in 2013) <1% 1 – 5% 5 – 10% 10 – 20% ≥ 20% 0.01% Includes CCA chemical wastes – does not include intact CCA treated timber Waste arising in 2013 (tonnes) TOTAL: 570 ACT: 0 NSW: 9 NT: 0 Qld: 206 SA: 304 Tas: 0 Vic: 31 WA: 20 Potential health impacts Overview Chromium (VI), as the potential worst case constituent of CCA treatment wastes, has been chosen to reference specific health impacts for this waste. The most common hazards of human exposure to Cr (VI) compounds are irritation of the skin, eyes, mouth, throat, lungs and intestines. Acute poisoning, through inhalation, can result in death. Cr (VI) is carcinogenic via inhalation. Acute toxicity Extreme: Very toxic and may be fatal by inhalation. Toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin – contact causes severe skin burns and allergic reactions and severe eye damage. Chronic toxicity Low: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled, but the consequences of acute effects will be most severe. On the skin, chromic acid can cause chronic ulcers known as ‘chrome holes’. Carcinogenicity High: Classified as “sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans” and inhaled hexavalent chromium is a known human carcinogen. Particularly with respect to lung cancer. Reproductive toxicity High: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child and may cause genetic defects. Workplace health & safety impacts Exposure to CCA impregnation solutions could arise as the result of splashes or as contaminated dust or wood fragments/ shavings. Occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium has been associated with lung cancer and arsenic is also classed as a human carcinogen. Population scale impacts There has been ongoing media and public interest in the use of CCA-treated timber and the possible health risks it may present, particularly when used in settings where children
waste-recycling-process-of-used-oil-drilling3.docx