Biological and chemical investigations for the assessment of the environmental impact of wood preservative components

IRG/WP 99-50127

E Melcher, H-W Wegen

This study was carried out in order to investigate the suitability of biological and chemical techniques to evaluate the environmental impact of wood preservatives depleted from impregnated wood. Small specimens (15*25*50 mm3) of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris) were treated with a CCB salt. After fixation the treated and untreated samples were washed-out according EN 84, and the different leachates were added continuously on the top of soil columns (lysimeters). The pure wood preservative was used as a reference. After certain time intervals the eluate was separated and the content of ions was analysed. A couple of these solutions were selected to determine their toxicity against luminescent bacteria and daphnia. First results show that the solutions containing the pure wood preservative show highest toxicity against the aquatic micro-organisms used in this test. The values for the leachate containing wood preservative are comparable with data for the wood preservative-free solution. The results clarify that the analytical measurements well correspond with the biological tests on ecotoxicity.


Keywords: ENVIRONMENT; BIOTEST; ECOTOXICITY; LEACHING; LYSIMETER; CCB

Conference: 99-06-06/11 Rosenheim, Germany


Download document (60 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document