[Pil-pc-oceania] fumigated pallets - conclusion

[niree bingham]

Further to this discussion on pallets and methyl bromide, etc.  and
windbreaks, I would still like to know what other ideas people have for
windbreaks as the description Linda has given  below still does not deal
with the facts that there must be a high embedded energy in pallets coming
from Asia, someone still has to do the MB gassing and therefore will be
exposed (and so will the ozone) regardless of the fact that the risks have
diminished by the time they are being used, there is the potential for the
timber to be 'not-so-sustainable' and there may be a more 'useful' solution
(the obvious one would be a fruiting hedge).
Sorry Linda, I know you may be in a hurry, this is not an attack on your
decision, I am just keen for alternatives.

Thanks

-- 
Niree Bingham

Greenweave Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Property Design

0407 808 852





On 8/21/07, Linda Shewan <linda.shewan at bryn.com.au> wrote:
>
> Thought I would update you from our investigations in case anyone else
> uses them or is thinking of doing so:
>
> Pallets are treated one of three ways -  fumigated with methyl bromide, -
> heat treated, - "debarked" , prior to being imported to Australia. The
> method used is usually printed on the pallet.
>
> Methyl bromide is a toxic pesticide (and ozone depleting) that is injected
> into soil before planting strawberries, grapes almonds and other crops, and
> to kill pests in stored commodities in agricultural shipments and in
> buildings.  As a gas it used to fumigate pallets and is used in pre-shipment
> applications, applied no less than 21 days prior to export (in NZ).
>
> Reports of acute toxicity seem confined to those who inhale the gas up to
> two days after application.  Chronic toxicity is reported in people who are
> repeatedly exposed to the gas over long periods of time - usually those who
> apply it.
>
> It may build up in soils due to repeated applications.
>
> As it is used as a gas for fumigation purposes and most of the gassing off
> seems to happen within a relatively short period of time we have decided
> that aged pallets of this nature will be ok for windbreak purposes.
>
> If anyone has anything more to add, would be happy to hear.
>
> Cheers, Linda
>
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