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Bioaccessibility and Solubility of Copper in Copper-Treated Lumber
Citation:
Griggs, J., L. Santiago, T. Luxton, K. Rogers, C. Nelson, AND K. Bradham. Bioaccessibility and Solubility of Copper in Copper-Treated Lumber. Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, Columbia, SC, September 07 - 11, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Micronized copper (MC)-treated lumber is a recent replacement for Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and Ammonium Copper (AC)-treated lumbers; though little is known about the potential risk of copper (Cu) exposure from incidental ingestion of MC-treated wood. The bioaccessibility of Cu from the saw dust of four types of wood (two MC-treated, one untreated, one AC-treated) suspended in synthetic stomach fluid (SSF) was examined. Centrifugation and filtration techniques were used to isolate the soluble and insoluble fractions. TEM imaging was used to confirm the presence of Cu in wood. Both MC-treated woods suspended in SSF released more than 82% of the total Cu present in the wood sample as soluble Cu. AC released the highest concentrations followed by MCQ-treated wood, and little Cu was released from untreated wood. These data suggest the high bioaccessibility of Cu from treated lumber may pose a potential exposure risk upon accidental ingestion, possibly causing toxic effects.