Silver News

U.S. Senate Discusses Funding for Silver Biocide Research - Study to Learn Silver’s Role as Alternative to Chemical Wood Preservatives

The United States Senate in September held hearings on programs to study the effectiveness of silver-based biocides as an alternative to current chemical wood preservatives which are being phased out by year’s end because of their harmful effects on people, animals and the environment.

Silver biocides could serve as a viable, safe, and cost-effective wood preservative used in play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios, and walkways/boardwalks.

“Given silver’s long-standing role as an effective biocide, it is important to study and fully explore the potential it may have as a wood preservative,” said Idaho Senator Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Public Land and Forests.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and manufacturers of treated wood and wood preservative chemicals negotiated an agreement to phase out the use of chromated copper arsenate based wood preservatives in pressure-treated wood by December 31, 2003.   If silver biocides are found to be effective as a wood preservative, more than 80 million ounces of silver per year could be consumed in pressure-treated wood, according to experts including Dr. Jeffrey Ellis of Plantation, Florida, a consultant to the chemicals and

plastics technology industries, who testified before the Subcommittee.

In his testimony, Ellis noted: “The research contemplated is urgently needed to assist the timber industry in meeting this challenge in a timely fashion. At present, research is needed first to establish that silver will meet the performance requirements.”

The bill under discussion is S. 432, the Public Lands Production Research Act of 2003. A similar bill, H.R. 688, was introduced in the House of Representatives in February.

Silver News - Fourth Quarter 2003