Safe Cover

The University of Georgia, Athens, has released a study that concludes that “mulches with a structural engineered wood component should be safe to use onsite” at construction sites.

This was based on the fact the mulches had no effect on the plant growth of three commonly used landscaping plants in tests performed by the university’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The study examined what would be considered potential environmental issues from ground engineered wood products—surface water contamination, changes in the chemistry or biology of the underlying soils, and negative effects on plant growth.

There is little published information available on the potential environmental impacts of ground engineered wood products, which can include such contaminants as formaldehyde, phenol, methyl methacrylate and diallyl phtalate, as well as sodium and nitrogen.