Are creosoted sleepers safe?
Creosote has been used as a wood preservative for many years and contains toxic chemical compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). While sleepers remain embedded in railway tracks, the creosote is considered to be environmentally safe.Click to see full answer. In this regard, is it safe to use railway sleepers for raised beds? Re: Raised…
Creosote has been used as a wood preservative for many years and contains toxic chemical compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). While sleepers remain embedded in railway tracks, the creosote is considered to be environmentally safe.Click to see full answer. In this regard, is it safe to use railway sleepers for raised beds? Re: Raised Vegetable Garden – Railway Sleepers Health and Safety rules prevent reclaimed sleepers being used in schools etc as creosote is carcinogenic. However, until relatively recently the advice given was that these sleepers are OK to use in raised beds as the creosote would be weathered.Subsequently, question is, how do you stop railway sleepers from leaking? There’s nothing effective you can do to stop them leaking. 2) Replace them with non-creosote treated railway sleepers, whether new or used. Landscapers should not really be using the old GB pine railway sleepers, due to their unpleasant leaking. One may also ask, do railway sleepers need treating? The type of wood treatment required to preserve and protect railway sleepers depends on the type of sleeper and the desired effect. Both types should be treated with an exterior wood preservative on all sides prior to installation and paying special attention to any sawn ends.What are railway sleepers made out of?Network Rail replaces one million railway sleepers a year, although less than half are now wooden. They’re replaced by concrete and solid steel sleepers from the US. Most reclaimed sleepers are pine, with one in 10 made from hardwoods such as oak and even mahogany.
