Plant Uptake Summary

Compiled from various published data by Dr Harry Greaves, Wood Products Consultant.


1. CSIRO web site www.ffp.csiro.au/wft/wpc/ccafact1.html

No uptake in grapes tomatoes and cucumbers. Slight uptake by carrots and beets but As in safe organic form and can be removed by peeling. Potatoes stored for up to 7 months in CCA-treated timber boxes showed no As contamination.

2. Alamgir F et al. (2001) Arsenic availability from CCA treated lumber and uptake by plants. University of Minnesota.

Soil, sampled 0-25 mm from CCA-treated timber edging	40-50 ppm As
Carrots, peeled	0.035 ppm As
Carrots, unpeeled	0.068 ppm As
Spinach	0.057 ppm As
Beans	0.039 ppm As
Bean stems and leaves	1.5 ppm As
Buckwheat	0.144 ppm As

3. Levi M.P. et al.(1974) Uptake by grape plants of preservatives from pressure-treated posts not detected. Forest Products Journal 24 (9), 97-98.

Grapes, either fruit or leaves	<0.05 ppm As
Grape leaves and stems	6.9 ppm Cu
Grape fruit	7.23 ppm Cu

4. Hickson Corporation Technical Report (1992) Raised garden beds.

Carrots	2.2 ppm As
Okra	<0.8 ppm As
Peppers	0.5 ppm As
Cucumber	<0.9 ppm As
Tomatoes	0.5 ppm As

5. Spier T.W. et al. (1992) Assessment of the feasibility of using CCA-treated and boric acid-treated sawdust as soils amendments. Plant and Soil, 142, 235-248.

Growing in soil amended with CCA-treated sawdust	66 ppm As
Lettuce	7 ppm As
Beetroot bulb	6 ppm As

6. Grant C. and J. Dobbs (1977) The growth and metal content of plants grown in soil contaminated by a CCA wood preservative. Environmental Pollution 14, 213-225.

Growing in soil watered with CCA solution	270 ppm As
Dwarf beans	0.3 ppm As
Carrots	1.9 ppm As
Tomatoes	0.2 ppm As

7. Cooper P.A. et al. (1995) Plant uptake of CCA components from contaminated soil. IRG/WP 95-50043.

Soil contaminated with CCA preservative leached from poles	18-80 ppm As
Lettuce whole plant	<4 ppm As
Radish whole plant	9-11 ppm As
Lettuce leaves	<4 ppm As

Some relevant permissible As levels allowed by various jurisdictions:

UK permissible As levels in arable soils	50 ppm
Denmark EPA permissible As levels for arable soils	20 ppm
NSW EPA permissible As levels for urban redevelopment	20 ppm
NSW EPA permissible As levels for residential use, including gardens	100 ppm
US Public Health limit for As in fruit, crops, vegetables, etc.	2.6 ppm
WHO tolerable weekly intake of As per kg body weight	15µg

Dr. Harry Greaves
Principal, HG Consulting 
5/9/03

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