III.  Environmental & Toxicological Studies

III-1. Walter, C.S.  1952.  Effects of Copper Naphthenate and Pentachlorophenol on Livestock.  Proc. Amer. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Vol. 48, pages 302-313.

Copper naphthenate and pentachlorophenol are recommended rather extensively for agricultural use.  What effect the two chemicals may have on livestock is unknown.  This report presents the results of tests on swine, sheep, and cattle using treated wood as well as oral and dermal exposure of diluted preservatives.  None of the livestock showed any visible effects resulting from the use of treated wooden housing or fencing material.  All animals used treated equipment as readily as they did untreated.  None of the drenched swine or sheep showed any visible effects of the drenching, and none of the animals died.  It may be concluded that copper naphthenate and pentachlorophenol preservatives will not harm livestock if used with adequate precautions.

III-2. Angerhofer, R. A. and Taylor, L. M. 1988.  Preliminary Assessment of the Relative Toxicity of Copper Naphthenate Acute Studies.  Phase 2.  May 1984 ø June 1986.  U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, Report AD-A190851 on Study No. 75-51-0497-88

A series of studies was performed in lab animals and biological systems to determine the relative toxicities of copper naphthenate and a wood preservative formulation thereof.  The studies included primary skin and eye irritation, acute oral and dermal toxicity, skin sensitization, saturated vapor inhalation, dominant lethal studies, avian toxicity and aquatic toxicity.  Copper naphthenate has low oral and dermal toxicity and is a moderate skin irritant but not a sensitizer. All of the mutagenicity studies were negative. Copper naphthenate was shown to be non-toxic to birds but moderately to highly toxic to fish.  Due to the high degree of toxicity of copper naphthenate in one fish species, it was further recommended that disposal of excess preservative materials should be done in an environmentally acceptable manner.

III-3. Angerhofer, R. A. and Metker, L. W. 1988.   Preliminary Assessment of the Relative Toxicity of Copper Naphthenate, (Mooney Chemicals), Acute Studies.  Phase 3.  May 1984 ø October 1987.  U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, Report AD-A201272 on Study No. 75-51-0497-88

A series of studies was performed in lab animals and biological systems to determine the relative toxicities of copper naphthenate and a wood preservative formulation thereof.  The studies included primary skin and eye irritation, acute oral and dermal toxicity, skin sensitization, saturated vapor inhalation, dominant lethal studies, avian toxicity and aquatic toxicity.  Copper naphthenate has low oral and dermal toxicity and is a moderate skin irritant but not a sensitizer. All of the mutagenicity studies were negative. Copper naphthenate was shown to be non-toxic to birds but moderately to highly toxic to fish.  Due to the high degree of toxicity of copper naphthenate in one fish species, it was further recommended that disposal of excess preservative materials should be done in an environmentally acceptable manner.

III-4. Harp, Ken L.; Grove, Scott L.  1994.  Evaluation of wood and soil samples from copper naphthenate-treated utility poles in service.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume Date 1993, Vol. 89, pp. 167-91.   CA: 122:242521

Data is presented on the evaluation of copper naphthenate-treated utility poles in service at five U.S. field sites.  The field sites are located in the systems of the following utilities cooperating in this evaluation: Seattle City Light, Pacific Gas and Elec., Huntsville Utilities, and Cleveland Elec. Illuminating Company.  The poles included in this work have been in service from 2 to 5 years depending on the location.  Douglas fir and southern pine poles supplied by three different treating companies are represented in this study.  This paper presents the status of these on-going evaluations.  The primary goal of this work is to examine copper migration within the poles over time.  Increment borings were removed from near the groundline and approx. 5 ft above the groundline for each pole.  The borings were segmented into four (Douglas fir) or seven (southern pine) assay zones for anal.  Soil samples were obtained from around the base of several utility poles.  The wood and soil samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for copper content.  The results of the wood and soil analyses are summarized in this report.  For each site, comparisons are presented for the copper content of the wood borings from various positions within the poles and for soil analyses at different distances and depths from the poles.  Comparisons of the copper content in the wood borings and in the soil samples are made between the sites.

III-5. Michalenko, Edward M.; Kaczmar, Swiatoslav W.; Browne, Bryant A. 1994.  A field study of mobility of supplemental wood pole preservatives in Adirondack wetlands.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume Date 1993, Vol. 89, pp. 22-50.  CA: 121:224219

A field study and associated risk assessment was sponsored by the Empire State Elec. Energy Research Corporation (ESEERCO) and performed by O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. in order to evaluate the potential ecological and human health impacts related to the application of five supplemental wood preservatives to elec. utility transmission poles.  The field study consisted of post-application monitoring for chem. residuals and biol. impacts related to Osmoplastic, Dursban, Woodfume, Hollow Heart, and Cop-R-Nap Naphthenate.  The investigation involved 20 utility wood poles located in wetland sites of the New York State Adirondack Park.  Ground water, surface water, and soil around each treated pole were monitored for release of active ingredients and subsequent degradation products of the com. wood preservatives.  The biol. monitoring program measured carbon dioxide and methane evolutions, microbial biomass, and soil macro-invertebrates for responses to chem. exposure.  Wood preservative residues from supplementally treated poles were not found at concerns above background levels in ground water, surface water, or soil.  The absence of detectable residues was related to a combination of phys. and chem. factors including the small original mass of applied materials, a high affinity for adsorption to wood surfaces, and an ability of the preservatives to undergo volatilization and biodegradation.  Soil micro- organism populations were not impacted by supplemental wood pole treatment as evidenced by measurements of carbon dioxide and methane evolution, and microbial biomass.  Consistent with the results of soil respiration and microbial biomass indexes, no indication of impact was observed among the invertebrate community.  Based on the results of the field study and data assessments, it can be concluded that the supplemental utility pole treatments of Osmoplastic, Dursban, Woodfume, Hollow Heart, and Cop-R-Nap do not cause measurable post-application impacts to Adirondack Park wetlands.

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