Indoor use and occurrence of wood preservatives in the former GDR

A qualitative and quantitative investigation of the occurrence of wood preservatives was performed using materials from over 100 roof trusses in the former GDR. The reliability of information related to the subject under investigation and the observance of rules and regulations were checked, taking into consideration documents of the Office for Standardisation, Test Methods and Products Control(Amt fur Standardisierung, Messwesen und Warenprufung, ASMW). Five selected objects show to what extent regulations were adhered to in practice. The investigations confirm expectations as to the occurrence of wood preservatives as far as type and frequency are concerned. In unused lofts predominantly chromium and fluorine or DDT and lindane were used as active ingredients in bulk products, such as Dohnalit Ull (waterborne product with chromium and fluorine compounds) and Hylotox 59 (organic solvent based product with DDT and lindane). This fact deserves special mention that frequently wood preservative formulas based on water had been used jointly with formulas based on oil. Roof labels, crystalline deposits on the surface of trusses, signs of old inactive insect attack, chemical corrosion and colour tests are clearly indicative of the use of wood preservatives. Wrong use of wood preservatives was found to be the exception and was only observed in the "Do-it-yourself" sector.