Experience with traditional water-based preservatives such as chromated copper arsenate (CCA) applied in closed system vacuum pressure impregnation plants has shown that operator atmospheric exposure is low during normal operation. TANALITH E is a commercially available copper azole wood preservative introduced as a chrome and arsenic-free alternative to CCA based on the actives copper, tebuconazole and boric acid. To assess operator exposure, extensive atmospheric monitoring was conducted around a TANALITH E treatment plant facility, including static monitoring points during routine plant operations and long-term operator exposure. The atmospheric concentrations of the three actives and two of the amine carriers were subsequently determined by analysis. The results from the evaluation are discussed with particular emphasis on the assessment of risk to treatment plant operators working with copper azole wood preservatives.

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