General Info About Creosote

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#006633" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="040d6c00ddvuru.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="196b3870.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="135" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >General Info About Creosote   </FONT> |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puget Sound Creosote Awareness Project"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission"><U>Mission</U></A>   |   <B>General Info About Creosote</B>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts About Creosote"><U>Facts About Creosote</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos of Lake Hancock"><U>Photos of Lake Hancock</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos of Double Bluff Beach"><U>Photos of Double Bluff Beach</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos Near Keystone Ferry"><U>Photos Near Keystone Ferry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos from Admiralty Inlet"><U>Photos from Admiralty Inlet</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos of Ebeys Landing"><U>Photos of Ebey's Landing</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First Cleanup on Whidbey Island"><U>First Clean-up on Whidbey Island</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More Cleanup Photos"><U>More Clean-up Photos</U></A>   |   <A HREF="links_to_learn_more_about_creosote.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links to Learn More About Creosote"><U>Links to Learn More About Creosote</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creosoted Power Poles"><U>Creosoted Power Poles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Acknowledgements"><U>Acknowledgements</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> General Information  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="16afe4e0.jpg" border=0 width="510" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A derelict structure in Bellingham Bay.</div> <div>             </div> <div> There are many reasons why our marine environment is in jeopardy. Our salmon are endangered and the health of our Orca whales is deteriorating. The Orcas are at the top of the food chain as are we. They are major indicators of the health our surrounding waters and the food we take from it. We feel that creosote and the arsenic in pressure-treated wood are a major cause of the problem.</div> <div> Creosote coal tar contains dozens of carcinogens that are easily absorbed through the skin. It is also a known mutatant and is deadly to forage fish eggs (herring) and other marine organisms.This material hides in plain sight turning gray over time to conceal itself in the natural driftwood. It is free to float, polluting everywhere the tide takes it, eventually coming to rest on our beaches. The decomposing wood debris leave behind the toxins and untold damage to our ecosystem.</div> <div> The amount of material on the beaches is astounding! Perhaps after you've viewed these pages, you might take a walk on the beach where "driftwood" has collected and notice the difference<I> </I>between the two<I>. </I>Keep in mind that if each of these pieces were a red drum with "TOXIC" printed on it, leaking onto the sand, the EPA would immediately send a small army to remove them. Sometimes their smell is so overwhelming it gives them away. But very often, because they hide in plain sight among the natural driftwood, they go unnoticed. </div> <div> Europe banned the use of creosote in June 2003 (see Facts About Creosote page). In both the US and Canada, arsenic treated wood was phased out for all residential use, boardwalks, fences, and playground equipment in December 2003. Australia gave the industry until December 2003 to prove the safety of its use in their country. </div> <div> Our proud marine heritage, which includes the building of docks, bridges, ferry slips, etc... has, due to abandonment, deterioration and storm damage left these building debris all over Puget Sound wherever wood gathers on the beaches. Grants from various federal and state agencies are providing the means to clean up Puget Sound's beaches and critical areas.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>