Landfill disposal of CCA-treated wood with construction and demolition (C&D) debris: arsenic, chromium, and copper concentrations in leachate

Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Aug 1;42(15):5740-5. doi: 10.1021/es800364n.

Abstract

Although phased out of many residential uses in the United States, the disposal of CCA-treated wood remains a concern because significant quantities have yet to be taken out of service, and it is commonly disposed in landfills. Catastrophic events have also led to the concentrated disposal of CCA-treated wood, often in unlined landfills. The goal of this research was to simulate the complex chemical and biological activity of a construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfill containing a realistic quantity of CCA-treated wood (10% by mass), produce leachate, and then evaluate the arsenic, copper, and chromium concentrations in the leachate as an indication of what may occur in a landfill setting. Copper concentrations were not significantly elevated in the control or experimental simulated landfill setting (alpha = 0.05). However, the concentrations of arsenic and chromium were significantly higher in the experimental simulated landfill leachate compared to the control simulated landfill leachate (alpha = 0.05, p < 0.001). This indicates that disposal of CCA-treated wood with C&D debris can impact leachate quality which, in turn could affect leachate management practices or aquifers below unlined landfills.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / analysis*
  • Arsenic / chemistry
  • Chromium / analysis*
  • Chromium / chemistry
  • Copper / analysis*
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Refuse Disposal*
  • Temperature
  • United States
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry
  • Wood*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Chromium
  • Copper
  • Arsenic