Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties. What homeowners don't realize, is that these cross ties are not only harmful to the environment, but they pose a huge health threat! Ensure they've been responsibly sourced and properly treated for residential use, particularly if you're planning to use them in a vegetable garden or close to water sources. The risk of using railroad ties, treated with creosote, a known carcinogen, primarily comes from direct contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Here are the precautions that should be used when handling railroad ties: Handling: When handling creosote treated wood, wear gloves and long sleeves and try to minimize time spent working with ties. Work in well ventilated areas and avoid working in hot conditions when vapors are most potent. Children: If children play on or around the ties they may get creosote on their skin and clothing and could subsequently ingest small amounts. Exposure to skin can cause irritation and rashes. Ingestion in small amounts while not life threatening, is a health concern. Gardens: Plants have shown only limited potential to take up creosote but some compounds have been shown to attach to roots, which could lead to elevated creosote levels on tuber vegetables. For this reason, it is advisable not to landscape with railroad ties directly in contact with vegetable gardens. Water Table: Some components of creosote are very sticky and not water soluble and will stay on the ties; however, other chemicals are water soluble and will dissolve and move with water. In areas where moisture levels are moderate, these chemicals may wash into surrounding soil with rain, but will likely decompose with time. However, in areas where the water table is very shallow or where a lot of surface water is present, there is more potential for transport of the chemicals into groundwater. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid using railroad ties for landscaping in very wet or shallow ground water areas. Disposal and Fire: Creosote treated wood should not be burned, since burning volatilizes hazardous chemicals in the smoke. One currently suggested disposal method for treated wood is in sanitary landfills. However, check with your landfill first to inquire about local policies. Another currently suggested method for disposal is burial. However, if this option is chosen it is critical to consider surface and ground water movement in your location to minimize the possibility of creosote getting into water supplies.
I’m about to do this, thank you for the tips👍
Around here (South Dakota), I'd be looking for the rattlesnake!
Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties. What homeowners don't realize, is that these cross ties are not only harmful to the environment, but they pose a huge health threat! Ensure they've been responsibly sourced and properly treated for residential use, particularly if you're planning to use them in a vegetable garden or close to water sources. The risk of using railroad ties, treated with creosote, a known carcinogen, primarily comes from direct contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
Here are the precautions that should be used when handling railroad ties:
Handling: When handling creosote treated wood, wear gloves and long sleeves and try to minimize time spent working with ties. Work in well ventilated areas and avoid working in hot conditions when vapors are most potent.
Children: If children play on or around the ties they may get creosote on their skin and clothing and could subsequently ingest small amounts. Exposure to skin can cause irritation and rashes. Ingestion in small amounts while not life threatening, is a health concern.
Gardens: Plants have shown only limited potential to take up creosote but some compounds have been shown to attach to roots, which could lead to elevated creosote levels on tuber vegetables. For this reason, it is advisable not to landscape with railroad ties directly in contact with vegetable gardens.
Water Table: Some components of creosote are very sticky and not water soluble and will stay on the ties; however, other chemicals are water soluble and will dissolve and move with water. In areas where moisture levels are moderate, these chemicals may wash into surrounding soil with rain, but will likely decompose with time. However, in areas where the water table is very shallow or where a lot of surface water is present, there is more potential for transport of the chemicals into groundwater. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid using railroad ties for landscaping in very wet or shallow ground water areas.
Disposal and Fire: Creosote treated wood should not be burned, since burning volatilizes hazardous chemicals in the smoke. One currently suggested disposal method for treated wood is in sanitary landfills. However, check with your landfill first to inquire about local policies. Another currently suggested method for disposal is burial. However, if this option is chosen it is critical to consider surface and ground water movement in your location to minimize the possibility of creosote getting into water supplies.
Thank you for sharing
Sorry hard to follow
I’ll be glad to answer any questions you have.