A house can last a lifetime. If another family moves in after you move out, that’s at least 100 years or more of constant use. Regular maintenance should be a concern of any homeowner, but what about the construction process that took place long before you came into the picture? Today, preservative-treated wood is being used as a way to combat deterioration due to wood-destroying insects or fungi. Preservative-treated wood has a long history of extending the service life of houses and other industrial products such as poles and crossties. Some metal-based preservatives have been closely examined for possible adverse effects on human health and the environment.
All preservatives used in the treatment process are periodically evaluated for registration by the EPA and some have been voluntarily withdrawn for residential applications such as chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Therefore, some older and since-banned materials do end up in landfills. At issue today is the environmental impacts of preservative-treated wood, alternatives to landfills, and developing metal-free preservatives. My research has shown that properly treated CCA wood leaches an insignificant amount in service. For more information on some of these efforts, please visit DrToddShupe.com and click on publications.
The industry has been proactive in funding research efforts that remove and reuse heavy metals from decommissioned preservative-treated wood. CCA can be effectively removed from spent wood using a process known as microwave-assisted liquefaction. The process is a closed loop, economical, and results in no waste streams.
Check out these other great articles…
Study of Moso Bamboo’s Permeability and Mechanical Properties
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Microwave Treatment of Bamboo In this article, moso bamboo blocks were first treated with hydrochloric acid solvents with different concentrations or microwave treatments with various microwave output power and treatment durations. The results showed that the crystalliferous region of cellulose of...
Don’t Delay in Painting Exterior Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-13 | Blog | 0 Comments
With timely repainting, an exterior wood surface can last for centuries. The problem primarily occurs when the wood surface has been degraded due to weathering prior to the application of the primer coat. The primer paint/wood interface is critical to ensuring the long-term performance of...
Characterization of Microwave Liquefied Bamboo Residue
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Microwave Liquefaction System Bamboo raw feedstocks with large particle size (20−80 mesh) were subjected to a microwave liquefaction system, and the liquefied products were separated into biopolyols and liquefied residues. Biopolyols were first analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry...
Characterization of Microwave Liquefied Bamboo Residue
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Microwave Liquefaction System Biomass is widely considered as an important feedstock because of its renewability, ease of degradation, and availability. According to Perlack and Stokes, the current biomass resource availability annually was about 1.37 × 109 dry tons from forestlands and...
Now is the Time to Cut Firewood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Why Cut Firewood in the Spring? Spring is an ideal time to cut firewood for several practical reasons. First, the weather is generally mild, making outdoor work far more pleasant than in the heat of summer. You’ll be glad you took advantage of springtime conditions once the high temperatures of...
Use Preservative-treated Wood & Integrated Pest Management When Rebuilding
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-10 | Blog | 0 Comments
Large areas of land along the Gulf of Mexico have been flooded and destroyed by recent hurricanes. Many homes and other buildings are no longer habitable or will be demolished. Some of these structures will be rebuilt. With this rebuilding comes an opportunity to reduce the impact of a wide array...
Importance of Wood Moisture Content
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-10 | Blog | 0 Comments
Basics of Wood Moisture Content The moisture content is defined as the weight of the water contained in the wood expressed as a percentage of the ovendry weight of the wood. Thus, the MC may range from zero for ovendry wood to over 100 percent when the water in the wood weights more than the...
Seasoning to Prevent Defects in Green Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-10 | Blog | 0 Comments
This publication provides information on some of problems and basic principles involved in seasoning lumber, wood disks and other small pieces of wood. It is intended to help individuals who would like to season small quantities of wood inexpensively and without sacrificing quality. Small mill...
Wood Forensics –Failure Analysis
by drtoddadmin | 2026-05-08 | Blog | 0 Comments
Wood is unique as a structural material because of its elastic range, biological degradability, and anisotropic nature. Therefore, in service failures involving wood involves a variety of disciplines. Due its elastic nature, we can apply a one-time load to wood within its elastic range and any...
Causes And Control For Lichens On Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-21 | Blog | 0 Comments
I bought a swing set when my first child was very young. I would guess that it is about 18 years old now. It is made from redwood, which is a naturally durable wood species. Redwood has long been used for exterior products such as hot tubs and decks. A naturally durable wood species will be...
Trees of the Bible
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-20 | Blog | 0 Comments
Did you know that 37 specific names of trees are mentioned in the King James Version of the Bible? While most of the trees spoken of are native to Israel, some were brought by travelers who passed through Israel along their trade route between Asia Minor and Egypt. Acacia: (Acacia sp.) was called...
Wood Post Decay
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-20 | Blog | 0 Comments
In warmer climates, many homes have large front porches for people to sit and relax. This is certainly true throughout the South. The “winter” is short, and the summer seems to last forever. So, the front porch is a nice place to relax, visit with family and neighbors, and enjoy the view of a...
Market Potential for Reclaiming CCA from Decommissioned Utility Poles
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Green Spray Foam In the area of recycling of spent chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood, most studies to date have focused on methods of removing/extracting the residual preservative from the wood matrix. It is well recognized that exposure of CCA-treated wood to an acid solution can...
Fun Facts Regarding Black Walnut Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-05 | Blog | 0 Comments
One of my favorite hardwoods is black walnut. Its primary native region is the Midwest and east-central United States. It was a common tree to find in the woods as a boy growing up in Illinois. It is easily identified by its unique leaves and bark. The leaves are compound and alternately...
Woodworking Tips for Beginners Part II
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
Wood Gluing Tips Many woodworking projects require gluing. There are many types of glues and epoxies but they all have some common requirements which we will focus on in this post. Mask Glue Joints Before Assembly/Finishing I suggest you finish the individual parts of your woodworking project...
Hydrothermal (HT) Processing of Plant Biomass for Petrochemical and Bioenergy Products
by drtoddadmin | 2026-04-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
INTRODUCTION Plant biomass represent a vast, renewable source of biobased feedstocks for chemical and thermal processing into biobased energy and petrochemical products. This ongoing research uses hydrothermal (HT) treatment, which simply refers to chemical reactions conducted in water that has...
Stabilizing and Bending of WOOD for the Hobbyist
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Lumber scraps and cross-sections of angle cuts sawed from small logs or large limbs can be made into attractive items, but only if the wood is first treated with polymers and then properly seasoned, or if the wood is initially seasoned following special techniques. These treatments and techniques...
Woodworking Tips For Beginners
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Photo credit: Snap Man on VisualHunt / CC BY-NC Woodworking can be a great way to connect with nature, build something that can be passed down for generations, and provide you with a great sense of satisfaction of a job well done. However, I have found that too many people are hesitant to get...
Furniture Refinishing
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Lessons learned I love to refinish furniture. A fresh coat of finish on a piece of furniture will make it shine like a freshly painted house. Once it is all over, it is very satisfying to sit back in your easy chair and look at your work across the living room. Furniture refinishing is also...
Properly Dispose Of Chemically-Treated Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-09 | Blog | 0 Comments
Some Tips to Properly Dispose Of Chemically-Treated Wood With warmer weather on the way for much of the U.S., the time-honored tradition of “spring cleaning” will soon be upon us. This means we’ll have an opportunity to get outdoors once again and assess the damage done by winter. When it comes to...
The Christian Legend of the Dogwood Tree
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-02 | Blog | 0 Comments
"For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right Hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). There is one unique area in which my knowledge of wood science and faith in Jesus intersect and that is the cross of His crucifixion at Calvary. The True...
Areas of Wood Science Research
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
I enjoy the responses I get when somebody asks me about my educational background. Once I tell them that I studied "wood science" they often are puzzled. What is that? During my career, I have performed proprietary third-party mechanical, physical, and chemical tests for new and existing...
Wood – Its Nature and Properties for Woodworking
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
For most cabinetmakers and furniture makers, wood is the raw material of choice. Wood has thousands of uses. Although wood may appear to be a relatively simple substance, closer examination shows that wood is one of the most complicated and unusual natural materials. The more you know about wood...
Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Liquefied Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)-Treated Wood Sludge Using a Modified BCR-Sequential Extraction Procedure
by drtoddadmin | 2026-03-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
The photo is courtesy of Mike Freeman Summary of CCA Sequential Extraction Chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood was liquefied with polyethylene glycol/glycerin and sulfuric acid. After liquefaction, most CCA metals (98% As, 92% Cr, and 83% Cu) were removed from liquefied CCA-treated wood...
Wood Is Good Medicine
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-26 | Blog | 0 Comments
I have been fascinated by the recent non-traditional means to improve patient recovery. Over the years, I have read about the benefits of natural sunlight, plants, water elements, rooms with a view of nature and even the color of the room and design of the bed. As an animal lover, I have been...
Study Shows New Health Benefits From Forests
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-23 | Blog | 0 Comments
The benefits of ancient Asian medicine has become increasingly popular in recent years. The local cultures are well known for historically having a close relationship with nature and using various local plants to treat specific medical problems. In the US, the Native Americans were known to...
Wood Decks Part 2: Maintenance Considerations
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-22 | Blog | 0 Comments
Wood Decks Part 2: Maintenance Considerations In Part 1 we discussed some of the design considerations for wood decks. Research has shown that homeowners are building larger decks now. Larger decks will provide more living space but will also come at an increased cost. The key to long term...
Wood Decks Part 1: Design Considerations
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-20 | Blog | 0 Comments
Wood decks provide a warm and inviting living space to any home. I have seen all types of wood decks from small and basic to large and elaborate. Regardless of the deck design, it is important to select the proper building material to ensure long-term enjoyment. However, it is important to...
Woods of Louisiana
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-19 | Blog | 0 Comments
Our state is blessed with a tremendous timber resource of approximately half hardwoods and half softwoods. These species are becoming increasingly important throughout the 64 Louisiana parishes and also in our global market place. We need to work with them and add value through further processing....
Why and How to Market Wood Products
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
This publication is designed to educate small to medium size primary and secondary forest products industry personnel about why and how to market wood products. Hobbyists and producers of wooden arts and crafts will also benefit by learning the necessary marketing skills to increase revenue and...
I Love to Paint
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
I love to paint. No, not the Pablo Picasso or Leonardo da Vinci type of painting. I enjoy painting interior walls or exterior siding, soffit, and trim. A nice paint job is usually the last step in a home improvement or repair process. So, the paint can make the job look really good or really...
Are Wood Preservatives Safe?
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
One of the more frequent questions from the public regarding wood preservatives is safety. The public is interested in two-fold safety: The first, Is this product safe for myself and my children? and the second, Is this product safe for the environment? The EPA has always been concerned with wood...
Reducing Leaching of Boron-based Wood Preservatives – A Review of Research
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Boracare by Nisus Inorganic Boron-Based Preservatives - An Excellent Wood Preservative Inorganic borates offer good protection to timber in most non-ground contact applications. The effective use of low solubility borates has not yet been achieved in the treatment of solid lumber. Interest in...
Heating Your House With Firewood: Part 3
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-14 | Blog | 0 Comments
Importance of 20% MC In Part 2, we discussed the importance of drying to bring down the wood moisture content (MC) and increase its Btu yield. The longer the wood sits, the greater its risk of attack by insects. This is particularly true as long as the wood is over 20% MC. Most, but not all,...
Heating Your House with Firewood – Part 2: Drying
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Importance of Drying In Part 1, we discussed the importance of wood moisture content on energy generated from burning wood (Btu). Freshly cut firewood will have a higher moisture content (MC). Therefore, the wood must be dried (or seasoned) to reduce the moisture content and increase the yield...
Heating Your House with Firewood – Part 1: Getting Started
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-10 | Blog | 0 Comments
Global Wood Use Most people do not realize that the primary use of wood in the world is not for building materials or paper but rather as an energy source for cooking or heating. This is particularly true in developing nations that are highly populated and have limited availability to other...
Tips To Identify And Properly Dispose Of Preservative-Treated Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-02 | Blog | 0 Comments
The very fact that readers are looking into proper protocols when it comes to the disposal of treated wood goes to show that many people have the environment in mind as of late. According to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), there are local regulations when it comes to the types of...
Causes and Control of Wood Decay, Degradation, and Stain
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
Our society depends on wood for a variety of uses. As population increases, so does our need for wood. Steel, concrete and aluminum are some alternatives to treated wood in certain applications, but they have higher material costs, higher energy requirements in the production process, greater air...
Application of End Coatings for Logs and Lumber
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
End Coatings Are Not Paint End coatings are products that can stop or minimize end checking on logs and lumber. It is important to understand that end coatings cannot reverse checking that has already occurred. Most commercial end coatings consist of paraffin wax or micro-crystalline wax, water,...
Rapid Microwave-Assisted Acid Extraction of Metals from Chromated Copper Arsenate Treated Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2026-02-01 | Blog | 0 Comments
Photo by Karelj Abstract - Chromated Copper Arsenate Treated Wood The effects of acid concentration, reaction time, and temperature in a microwave reactor on recovery of CCA-treated wood were evaluated. Extraction of copper, chromium, and arsenic metals from chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated...
Should I Use Nails or Screws?
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-30 | Blog | 0 Comments
One of the most common questions I have been asked over the years is “Should I use nails or screws?” Nails and screws are the most common fasteners which are most commonly used for wood-based construction and general wood working projects. Most people are confused, which is better for joining...
What Do the Egyptian Pharaohs, Ancient Chinese, and Today’s Home Builders Have in Common?
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-24 | Blog | 0 Comments
Plywood is an engineered wood panel that is comprised of thin veneers of wood that are adhered with an adhesive. It is commercially produced in 4x8 ft sheets that are readily available at hardware and lumber stores. Plywood has been around for decades and most people have a general understanding...
The Growing Popularity of Bio-Based Spray Foam Insulation
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-22 | Blog | 0 Comments
The agricultural and forest industries both produce residues or waste streams that have little or no economic value. The challenge that remains for agricultural and forestry residues is how to best utilize this material for maximum efficiency and economic profit. A few years ago I received...
Problems with Green Lumber – Part 3: Stain and Checking
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-21 | Blog | 0 Comments
Green lumber is particularly prone to stain and checking. In Part 1 we discussed the effect of fungi on green lumber and Part 2 focused on problematic insects. Now, in Part 3 we conclude with a brief discussion on stain and checking. Chemical Stains Stain is particularly problematic in the south...
Wood Chair Safety
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Wood is frequently used to construct a wide array of chairs for use at the home, office, restaurants, hotels and other establishments. These chairs range from simple four-legged, school-style chairs to three-legged bar stools. Wood is an excellent choice for chairs due to its inherent beauty and...
Simple Woodworking Projects Can Create Family Treasures
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
The two images in this blog are of a bird house that rests on the mantle in my living room. One is an overview picture that shows the complete birdhouse, and the other is a close up that shows the exit holes of powder post beetles that attacked the wood and came and went many decades ago. This...
Pecky Cypress – An American Favorite
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Sometimes Fungi Are Good! Bald cypress is a deciduous conifer in the family Cupressaceae that grows on saturated and seasonally inundated soils in the lowlands of the Southeastern and Gulf Coastal Plains of the United States. Like most tree species it has several common names...
Problems with Green Lumber – Part 2: Insects
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-14 | Blog | 0 Comments
Insects of Moist Wood Green lumber refers to lumber that is fresh off the saw and has a high moisture content. In Part 1 we discussed how this sort of lumber is vulnerable to attack by fungi. Now, in Part 2 we will focus on a few of the insects that attack green wood. Pests of moist wood are...
Antifungal Activities of Three Supercritical Fluid Extracted Cedar Oils
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-12 | Blog | 0 Comments
Port-Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Alaska yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), and Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) were submitted to supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 (SCC) and Soxhlet extracted (SE) with hexane. The components in the extracted oils were identified...
Leaching of Flakeboard Produced From Recycled CCA-Treated Wood Into Deionized Water
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-07 | Blog | 0 Comments
The disposal of preservative-treated wood is becoming a larger issue for the forest products industry due to increasing public concern and scrutiny as well as costs associated with traditional disposal, i.e., landfilling. Recycling of preservative-treated wood has great potential. In this study,...
Problems with Green Lumber – Part 1: Fungi
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-07 | Blog | 0 Comments
Green Lumber Green lumber refers to lumber that is freshly sawn. This is not what you will find at a local hardware store or big box store. However, green lumber is still common in rural areas and for wood working hobbyists. Trees often have a sentimental value to them. So, when a large tree...
Rotten Exterior Wood Trim
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-05 | Blog | 0 Comments
The Problem I have lived in my house in Baton Rouge, La for over 20 years. One thing that has been as consistent as hot weather, fire ants, and mosquitoes is rotten exterior wood. I can usually expect to replace a section of rotten soffit and facia about every 2-3 years! The problem areas are...
Iron Tannate Stain
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-05 | Blog | 0 Comments
Iron tannate stain is a result of a chemical reaction between tannins, moisture, and iron. The stain can look like mildew. Iron stain is most common in red oak wood and can ruin the aesthetics of flooring, paneling, furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc. made from this species. It is a problem both...
End Coating Logs Can Maintain Value
by drtoddadmin | 2026-01-05 | Blog | 0 Comments
Costs and Benefits We can avoid many log and lumber related problems if we simply process the logs into lumber as soon as possible. Rapid utilization will minimize or prevent end checking, insect infestation, stain, and decay for both hardwood and softwood logs. The biggest reason is the longer...
Understanding Chemical and Iron Stains on Lumber
by drtoddadmin | 2025-11-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Chemical stains include a variety of discolorations that occur in wood during drying but are typically not noticed until the drying process is over. A previous blog focused on sticker stain, so this post addresses other chemical stains. Interior Graying Interior graying is most common in southern...
A Greener Alternative to Traditional Insulation
by drtoddadmin | 2025-10-31 | Blog | 0 Comments
Most older homes, such as mine, were built with fiberglass mats as insulation in the walls and attic. Many homeowners today are aware of spray foam insulation. It can be bio-based or non-bio-based. Regardless, it is an excellent product because it creates an air seal and functions as a...
Wood from a West Coast Cedar Tree May Help Find a Cure for Prostate Cancer
by drtoddadmin | 2025-10-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Prodigiosin As an anticancer drug, prodigiosin shows its activity by inhibiting or activating certain signaling pathways that have not been clearly understood. Prodiginines (PGs) are a family of tripyrrole red pigments with numerous biological activities, including antifungal, antibacterial,...
Benefits of CCA-Treated Wood
by drtoddadmin | 2025-09-15 | Blog | 0 Comments
Our highway and interstate system is a critical component of our nation’s infrastructure and economy. These routes are essential for the transportation of goods and services, for emergency responders, for commuting to work, and for family travel. It is imperative that our highways provide safe...
Meet the Author
Dr. Todd Shupe is an internationally recognized expert in wood science and a trusted expert witness with over 30 years of experience. He provides science-based solutions in litigation, manufacturing, and product performance. Dr. Shupe has authored over 300 technical publications and holds a Ph.D. in Wood Science from LSU. He works closely with attorneys, manufacturers, and professionals across the U.S. and abroad. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and serving his faith community.
To learn more, visit DrToddShupe.com.
Office
2833 Westerwood Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
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(225) 773-3015
EMAIL US
tfshupe@gmail.com
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