Vinpost

Traditional wood posts are treated with preservatives (fungicides and insecticides) containing chemical substances such as copper, chromium, arsenic, creosote and tributyl-tin naphthenate (TBTN). Yum. The use of these preservatives extends the life of the posts. We're not sure if they extend human life though��

Copper and chromium are metals and arsenic is a metalloid. The three have been used together to preserve timber for as long as most of us can remember. Chromium and arsenic are known human carcinogens, while copper is toxic to aquatic organisms. TBTN is known to have endocrine-disrupting potential. We don't know exactly what that is, but is sounds bad.

And more good news: Creosote contains 150 different chemical compounds, mostly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens. Humans and the environment can be put at risk if exposed to these chemicals at high enough levels. Treated timber may be a source of these chemicals entering the environment. While the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has not concluded that wood treated with copper chrome arsenate (CCA) poses unreasonable risks to the public, it considers any reduction in potential exposure to arsenic is desirable, given that it is a known human carcinogen. As a result, the US EPA is facilitating the voluntary phase-out of the use of CCA-treated timber in domestic applications.

All these chemicals just to keep the bugs out.

Bugs don't like our posts. But that's ok. Our posts don't like bugs. They don't like mould and bacteria either. In fact, with sunlight and water, the Titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating on our posts actually KILLS bacteria and mould.