Q.   Is treated timber a health risk in humans?

A.   Long term occupation-related studies of preservative treatment plant workers and carpenters have found no significant differences in medical history compared with other (control) groups providing that simple personal protection and safety precautions are used. 

Three independent studies conducted in the USA on wood-preserving workers' long-term health status, and interpreted by professional epidemiologists, provided evidence that people exposed to CCA from preserved wood are at no increased health risk because of exposure. The workers, in fact, did not experience illness of any kind - including cancer of any type - at a greater incidence than workers not involved with treated wood.

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