January 20, 2003
Ubiquitous pressure-treated lumber--that greenish wood treated with chromated copper arsenate to protect against pathogens--has hit the headlines again. Toronto-based Environment Defence Canada (EDC) tested the soil around park playground structures in seven Canadian cities. They found arsenic levels exceeded federal guidelines in over half of these.
Yet, a prominent British Columbia organic fertilizer firm distributes a widely acclaimed natural mineral product with similarly high arsenic levels.
In May 2002, the Toronto Star reported that it had discovered soil near playground structures made of pressure-treated wood in six Toronto parks, which had arsenic levels considerably higher than the 12 parts per million (ppm) set for park and agricultural land by Health Canada.
Toronto City Council ordered one such structure in High Park to be coated with a sealant while testing over 80 other sites at an estimated cost of $90,000. Council debated in July if it was wise to spend over $300,000 to use an oil-based sealant on all playground equipment or wait for a report expected near the end of the year. They decided the arsenic-leaching pressure-treated lumber was not so serious as to warrant immediate action.
Then came EDC’s report earlier this month. Five playgrounds across the country were discovered to be the most toxic. Toronto’s Thorncrest Parkette led the way with 147 ppm, followed by Riverside in Montreal at 104, the Commons in Halifax at 69.4. Edmonton’s Primrose Park had 52.3 and Moberly Park in Vancouver rang up 51.3 ppm. Two-thirds of those in Toronto had levels well above the federally mandated 12 ppm, as had many others elsewhere.
It is perhaps surprising then to find that Gaia Green Products Ltd., from Grand Forks, B.C. in business for a decade, markets ‘Glacial Dust Rock’ which has an arsenic analysis, according to the company’s own literature of 20 ppm. Amongst the over 70 other elements it contains, are also chromium at 104 ppm, lead at 9.75 ppm and cadmium at 0.38 ppm.
‘Glacial Rock Dust’ is, in fact what geologists know as "rock flour". It is produced by the scouring action of glaciers grinding over bedrock for thousands of years. When the ice retreats, the rock flour remains behind to be retrieved and processed into a valuable soil amendment. According to Michael Dean, president of Gaia Green, his ‘Glacial Rock Dust’ increases phosphorous availability and provides "an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, plus trace elements and micronutrients." Besides this, he says, it will also "increase moisture holding properties of the soil, improve the cation exchange capacity, improve soil structure and drainage."
Well-known horticulturist Art Drysdale, previously a skeptic of organic nutrients, has been recommending Gaia products to home gardeners as well as professional growers. Drysdale noted in the October 2002, Canadian Gardening Centre & Nursery Magazine that Gaia Green had made an impact at the 14th organic world congress and exhibit held in Victoria, B.C., the previous month.
"Scientists from the Rodale Institute (U.S.), Cuba and Germany expressed interest in conducting detailed research on this Glacial Rock Dust which is likely the superior source of minerals that feed microorganisms," wrote Drysdale.
That arsenic has a long history of poisonings is indisputable. One theory holds that Napoleon was poisoned with it while in exile on the remote Atlantic Island of St. Helena. Throughout Victorian times it found wide use as a pesticide, even being used in wallpaper paste as well as to eliminate unwanted spouses and others. More recently it has found some favour in China amongst restaurant owners seeking to embarrass the competition. In Bangladesh, villagers are being exposed to cancers as well as nerve and immune system damage thanks to arsenic-polluted wells drilled through United Nations programs.
Following the furor in May 2002, Health Canada and lumber manufacturers acknowledged public concerns, announcing that pressure-treated wood preserved with chromated copper arsenic (CCA) would be phased out for use in and around homes and parks by Dec. 31, 2003. Despite this, Health Canada was not impressed with the report from Environmental Defence Canada. The environmental organization took only a single sample from each site, according to Health Canada. The federal department also notes that the report omits to mention the fact that children would have to ingest the soil or wood for it to be harmful.
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2018 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2018 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement