        FROM THE ARIZONA ARSON INVESTIGATOR - SUMMER 1991

                "DANGER" Lurking Within the Ashes

          Reprinted with express written permission of
                THE NATIONAL FIRE & ARSON REPORT


    In April of 1989, a fire investigator   working   in Upstate 
New York, became ill shortly after conducting an examination and  
reconstruction of a fire scene loss.

    The  investigator experienced severe stomach pains coupled   
with   diarrhea, resulting  in  his  seeking treatment at a local 
hospital emergency room upon his return back home. The illness
was diagnosed as gastrointeritis of the stomach and intestines   
and the investigator was released.

    At first it was thought that the investigator had contracted
a severe case of a flu-type virus, many of which display those 
symptoms experienced by the inveStigator and not suspecting that   
the investigator's illness was caused by the ingestion and/or 
inhalation of a compound known as (CCA) Chromium-Copper-Arsenate, 
which was present in the ashes of  that  fire  scene  loss  which  
the investigator examined just  prior  to becoming ill.

    The  fire  scene  examined  by  the investigator was  almost 
completely surrounded by a pressure-treated deck along with some 
treated lumber on the interior of the fairly new structure. As
many of us know, wood is the major construction material used in 
the United States, but is susceptible to the rapid attack by    
insects, fungi, and other microorganisms. In order to preserve 
the utility and life of wood,  it has been pressure-treated with 
an impregnated, EPA registered pesticide containing chromated
copper arsenate (CCA), which penetrates deeply into and remains 
in the pressure-treated wood for a long period of time.

    Exposure to (CCA) either through ingestion and/or inhalation 
may present certain hazards both in its natural state as well as 
after it has gone through its decomposition in a fire loss. The 
real danger exists after the pressure-treated lumber has burned 
and remains long after the fire has been extinguished - lurking
in the ashes.

    We often hear the cliche that "what one does not know, will 
not hurt them," however, in the case of pressure-treated wood, it 
can kill you.

    As fire investigators, the element of danger to our health 
and safety is always present when working in and around burned 
out structures.

    Often times we tend to concentrate on the most obvious 
dangers, those of which can be visibly seen but remain unaware of
those potential hazards which become obscured and/or hidden 
within the debris.
    In 1984, an article appeared in the Journal  of the  American  
Medical Association (JAMA) entitled "Seasonal Arsenic Exposure   
from burning Chromium-Copper-Arsenate Treated Wood." The article 
was prepared as a result of toxic  exposure  (to  a rural
Wisconsin family) study by Henry A. Peters, M.D. and several of 
his associates.

    A synopsis of Dr. Peters' study revealed that "All eight 
members of a rural Wisconsin family experienced recurring 
neurological and medical illness over three years. Especially
during the winter months. Arsenic, in concentrations of 11 to 89 
PPM, was noted in the hair of the mother and father, and analysis 
of hair and fingernails  of  all  the  family members 
demonstrated  pathological levels of arsenic. For four years the 
five room home had been heated with a small wood stove in which 
outdoor or marine plywood and wood remnants had been 
preferentially burned. Stove ashes that contained more than 1000
PPM of arsenic contaminated the living area, and the ratio of 
copper, chromium, and arsenic pentoxide in this ash matched the 
ratio used in the CCA treated wood."

    Wolman,  Wolmanized,  and Raincoat are registered trademarks
of the Koppers Company, Inc., the developers of Wolmanized and
outdoor wood. Brochures available at  any  local  lumber yards  
or hardware stores which handle pressure-treated lumber contain
information to the consumer as to use site precautions for CCA 
pressure-treated wood as well as the handling precautions
for CCA pressure-treated wood.

    Two such brochures "How to Build Backyard Projects and 
Fences" and "Let's Get Decked Out America" contain explicit
consumer information to avoid exposure hazards. The following 
precautions should be taken:

   - When used inside your residence, all sawdust and       
     construction debris should be disposed of after               
     construction.

   - Do not use it for counter tops or food cutting boards.

   - Do not use it for portions of beehives which may contact      
     honey.

   - Do not use it where wood may contact drinking water (except   
     incidental contact such as docks and bridges).

   - For patios, decks, and walkways make sure the treated wood    
     is visibly clean and free of surface residue.

   - Dispose of waste wood by trash collection or burial. Do not   
     burn it in open fires, stoves, fireplaces, or residential     
     boilers.

   - Work outdoors when possible and wear a dust mask, avoid       
     frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust. Also wear        
     goggles when power sawing or machining wood to protect your   
     eyes from particles. This safety measure should be observed   
     when working with any wood, treated or untreated.

   - Wash exposed areas thoroughly before you eat, drink, or       
     smoke.

   - Launder your work clothes thoroughly, separately from other
     clothes if sawdust or preservatives have accumulated.

    Even though wood is a beautiful, natural  material  and  when  
properly pressure-treated can last for decades, withstanding the 
attacks by its arch enemies, such as termites, and decay causing 
fungi, it can also be deadly to those of us who forget the hidden 
dangers, lurking within the ashes.

    Fire fighting is a hazardous undertaking at best. The 
firefighter is confronted with immediate problems which allow him 
to formulate a plan of attack for combating and ultimately 
suppressing a fire. What about the fire investigator whose job it  
is to determine the cause of the fire? How can he combat or 
protect himself against the many dangers or "silent death" 
lurking in the ashes.

    This fire debris analysis case was received at B&W's 
laboratory facility in the early part of May of 1989. The case
was handled in the usual manner Since the investigator's 
analytical request did not convey the emergency. The day I began
the analysis of the "fire debris" samples, I received phone calls 
from the submitting investigator and Mr. Stauffer of L.A.I., Inc. 
Both gentlemen informed me of the events that had transpired. The 
"severe virus" which was thought to be the cause of the  
investigator's illness had been ruled out. The thinking now 
focused on "something in the debris" as the culprit. I informed 
Mr. Stauffer and the investigator that we developed and routinely 
employ analytical procedures to determine the presence of 
halogenated compounds (bromine, chlorine) which are considered
toxic or hazardous or other organic compounds  routinely  used  
in  the formulations of insecticides, Fungicides or pesticides.

    The analysis for the  presence of flammable and/or  
combustible solvents, distillates and "formulated" products was
conducted utilizing a Varian Vista fully computerized 
microprocessor operated gas chromatographic system. The fire 
debris samples were found to be negative for the presence of 
"accelerants."

    After the analysis for the presence of "accelerants," the 
debris samples were subjected to an organic solvent extraction
mixture for the purpose of extracting from the debris any 
"foreign" compounds present in the "fire debris" which are not
inherent in the debris material.

    The extracts from the debris samples were collected, 
filtered, and reduced to the appropriate volumes for an analysis
utilizing a computer operated Hewlett Packard GC/MS (gas 
chromatograph coupled with a mass selective detector) capable of 
compound identification utilizing computer search and comparison
of the developed mass data to our mass spectral data base 
libraries.  The total ion chromatograms (TIC) and mass data 
developed from the analysis of the samples submitted did not 
reveal the presence of any "foreign" organic compounds which are  
listed  or  classified  as  toxic, carcinogenic or hazardous to 
one's health by absorption through the skin or by inhalation.

    At  this  point  in  the  analysis,  the elimination  of 
flammable and/or combustible distillates, solvents, and 
formulated products, including those which contain insecticides, 
fungicides, and pesticides had been eliminated as being the cause 
of the investigator's mysterious illness. At his juncture, I 
informed the investigator and Mr. Stauffer of my findings.  In  
order to scientifically investigate the "evidence" further, I 
suggested that the samples be analyzed for the presence of heavy 
metals since the symptoms   associated   with   the 
investigator's illness could be attributed to heavy metal  
poisoning.  It was agreed that the analysis had to be conducted.

    The analysis for the presence of "heavy metals" was conducted  
utilizing a Beckman  Spectraspan  series  Direct Current  Plasma,  
Atomic emission spectrograph. A portion of the debris from each 
sample was subjected to an "acid digestion" for approximately 
twenty-four hours. The acidic solutions were removed from the 
debris samples, filtered and prepared for analysis. The spectrum
developed  from  each  sample  was photographed. The  
photospectrographs were "read" to determine the presence in each 
of the samples. The Samples were found to contain the metals 
and/or metallic ions of arsenic, chromium, and copper along with 
the metal/metallic ions of calcium, aluminum, and silicon. The
arsenic, chromium, and copper present in the "ash" which the 
investigator inhaled during  his  investigation  are  likely
candidates for the medical problems experienced by the 
investigator.

    The physical properties of arsenic, chromium, and copper are 
summarized in the following paragraph to familiarize you, the 
investigator, of what types of dangers are lurking within the 
ashes:

                          Arsenic (As)

    I.  Metalloid,  several allotropes.  Gray arsenic  is
        metallic-soft  and  brittle, tarnishes, burns in oxygen,
        resists attack by water, acids, and alkalis. Attacked by
        hot acids and molten sodium hydroxide.

    II. Hazard: Carcinogen and utagen. TLV OSHA standard for
        employee exposure is 10mg/m3 of air. Respirators required
        for workers exposure to atmosphere over 500mg/m3. ADGH
        TLV is 200mg/m3 (Arsenic and soluble compounds).


                          Chromium (Cr)

    I.  Hard blue-white metal. Soluble in hydrochloric acid and
        sulfuric acid, but not nitric acid. Resists oxidation in
        air. Exists in active and passive forms, the latter
        giving rise to its corrosion resistance due to a thin
        surface oxide layer that passivates the metal when
        treated with oxidizing agents. Active form reacts readily
        with dilute acids to form chromium salts.  Soluble in
        acids (except nitric) and strong alkalies, insoluble in
        water.

    II. Hazard:  Hexavalent  chromium compounds are carcinogenic
        (OSHA) and corrosive on tissue, resulting in ulcers and
        dermatitis on prolonged contact. TLV: For chromium dust
        and fume is 0.5mg/m3 of air.

                           Copper (Cu)

    I.  Reddish metal, malleable and ductile, with high
        electrical and thermal conductivity. Resistant to air      
        and water but slowly weathers to green patina of
        carbonate.

    II. Hazard:  Flammable as a finely divided form TLV: (fume)
        0.2mg/m3 (dusts or mists) 1 mg/m3. Essentially nontoxic
        in elemental form.

    Reflect for a moment...almost every one of us, at some time,
has experienced a time where we didn't feel well during or after 
a fire investigation, or in my case, presently, as an analyst, 
didn't feel right during the analysis of fire debris. Chances
are, all of us have been exposed to a "Danger" Lurking in the 
Ashes which could have caused us serious medical problems or even 
death.

    This case is a prime example of a "seemingly" ordinary fire 
investigation.  The investigator in this case nearly lost his
life. In the future, don't treat each case as "just another fire 
case." Be aware of what is happening to you, personally. If you
have any indication that "something" is wrong, have it checked 
immediately.

References:

   Emsley, John Elements. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1989, pages
      20, 50, and 54.

   Hawley's, Condensed  Chemical Dictionary,  eleventh  edition,
      1987, Publisher  Van  Nostrand  Reinhold Company, Inc.,      
      pages 98, 280, and 308.

   Brochures

     "How to Build Backyard Projects "

     "Let's Get Decked Out American "











