Creosote movement from treated wood immersed in fresh water

Creosote has a long history of successful use as a wood preservative, but polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in this preservative have raised environmental concerns, particularly when creosote-treated wood is used in aquatic environments. A number of models have been developed to predict the risk of creosote use in aquatic environments, but one limitation of these models is a lack of data on the initial rates of creosote migration from treated wood. In this study, the effect of flow rates on creosote migration from freshly treated wood immersed in fresh water were examined. Seven of 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons listed as hazardous pollutants were detectable with the analytical protocol developed. Creosote component levels declined from values in the tens of ?g/cm2 day to undetectable levels within 7 days, with the exception of phenanthrene, indicating that creosote migration decreased sharply after initial exposure. These data provide the experimental foundation for the development of mathematical models to predict emissions from creosote-treated wood into the aquatic environment.

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