Prepared by: Gary Jacobi Extent of CCA Treated Wood in Consumer Mulches and Methods of Detection

Mulch made from C&D Wood

Objectives  Determine the extent to which CCA-treated wood has contaminated consumer mulches  Determine if visual methods can be used to identify suspect mulch  Determine if X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology can be used to identify suspect mulch  Determine the extent to which CCA-treated wood has contaminated consumer mulches  Determine if visual methods can be used to identify suspect mulch  Determine if X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology can be used to identify suspect mulch

Mulch Analysis Methods Sample Visual Inspection Size Distribution Ash for Total Metals SPLP Analysis Chemical Analysis Physical Analysis XRF Analysis

Visual Inspection Plywood and Foreign Objects (Nails, Plastic, Rubber, Glass, String, Rocks, Etc.)

Size Distribution  Uniformity Coefficient (UC):  The UC will approach 1 if the pieces of sample are the same size   d 50 : The size in inches that 50% of the sample is finer than  Uniformity Coefficient (UC):  The UC will approach 1 if the pieces of sample are the same size   d 50 : The size in inches that 50% of the sample is finer than

Sieve Analysis

Visual Analysis * 73% mulches with plywood are colored

Results: Size Distribution  Average d 50 of samples was 0.29 in.  Average Uniformity Coefficient was 5.0  Average d 50 of samples was 0.29 in.  Average Uniformity Coefficient was 5.0

Chemical Analysis Sample Visual Inspection Size Distribution Chemical Analysis Physical Analysis Ash for Total Metals SPLP Analysis XRF Analysis

Analysis Procedure Total Metals Results Leachable Results XRF

Ashed Samples: Results: Ash for Total Metals As > 2.1 mg/kg ColoredNot Colored As < 2.1 mg/kgAs > 2.1 mg/kgAs < 2.1 mg/kg

Results: Ash for Total Metals X X X X Fraction of Samples in Category with Values Greater Than Indicated Category

Copper vs. Chromium

Orlando Jacksonville Tallahassee Pensacola Gainesville Tampa Fort Myers St. Pete Marathon Key Largo Lake Worth South Florida Legend Arsenic <0.07 – 2.1 mg/kg Arsenic 3.7 – 50 mg/kg Arsenic 50 – 100 mg/kg Arsenic greater than 100 mg/kg Sebastian Brandon City Location Colored Non-Colored

SPLP Results

Methods: SPLP Analysis

SPLP Samples: Mulch SPLP Results Positive for As ColoredNot Colored Not Positive for AsPositive for AsNot Positive for As

SPLP Table X X XX

XRF Analysis

Results

Conclusion  52% are colored mulches  12% colored mulches positive for arsenic  17% mulches contained plywood  67% mulches with plywood positive for arsenic  87% mulches with plywood were colored  73 % of colored mulches with plywood contained arsenic  44 % of South Florida samples detected positive for arsenic in SPLP analysis  75 % of open bin mulches contained high concentrations of arsenic  52% are colored mulches  12% colored mulches positive for arsenic  17% mulches contained plywood  67% mulches with plywood positive for arsenic  87% mulches with plywood were colored  73 % of colored mulches with plywood contained arsenic  44 % of South Florida samples detected positive for arsenic in SPLP analysis  75 % of open bin mulches contained high concentrations of arsenic

Conclusion  Engineered wood was found in 21% of consumer mulches  Arsenic was found in 28% consumer mulches  SPLP tested showed that arsenic leached from 27 % of consumer mulches  48% of these samples leached over 50 μg/L  XRF is capable of spotting arsenic in mulch, especially mulch with higher concentrations  Engineered wood was found in 21% of consumer mulches  Arsenic was found in 28% consumer mulches  SPLP tested showed that arsenic leached from 27 % of consumer mulches  48% of these samples leached over 50 μg/L  XRF is capable of spotting arsenic in mulch, especially mulch with higher concentrations

Questions  Draft Report on-line at under the “publications” link  Comments accepted on report until August 30th  Draft Report on-line at under the “publications” link  Comments accepted on report until August 30th