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Pentachlorophenol (PCP) Wood Preservatives

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a restricted use pesticide that can only be used by professionals. It is used as a wood preservative for making utility poles, railroad ties, and wharf support pilings.

PCP is considered a "probable human carcinogen" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It can also cause other non-cancer health risks. Indoor applications of PCP are illegal. It cannot be used on wood that contacts the inside of homes or food, feed, and drinking water. All PCP uses will be canceled because risks to workers are greater than the benefits of its use. It will be phased out between 2022-2027.

Risk to people living near treated utility poles is expected to be low. It is very toxic to aquatic life and bees. It is slightly toxic to birds. However, their risks are considered low because of minimal exposure.

Consider these tips to reduce your risk:

• If you find reused treated wood and want to dispose of it, check with your local or state waste management. How you dispose of treated wood depends on your local and state laws, and the type of treated wood.
• Do not burn treated wood for disposal or fuel. It can expose people nearby to toxic smoke.
• Working with treated wood can expose you to toxic dust. Avoid cutting, sanding, drilling, or building with reused PCP treated wood.
• Consider using other types of materials or treated wood instead of reusing PCP wood in your garden or yard.
• For help selecting the proper type of treated wood, consider contacting the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA). The AWPA sets standards for how to reduce wood decay. These standards are based on wood durability, not health risk. For questions about health risks, contact NPIC.

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST) or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Additional Resources:

• Pentachlorophenol - US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
• ToxFAQs for Pentachlorophenol - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
• Pentachlorophenol Fact Sheet - US EPA
• Toxicological Profile for Pentachlorophenol - ATSDR
• Pentachlorophenol Final Registration Review Decision - US EPA
• IRIS Toxicology Review of Pentachlorophenol - US EPA
• IRIS Chemical Assessment Review of Pentachlorophenol - US EPA

Return to Treated Wood

Related Topics:

What are pests?

What are pesticides?

Please read our disclaimer | Contact us | About NPIC | En español

NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (cooperative agreement #X8-83947901). The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. EPA.