Is pressure treated wood safe for ponds?
Regarding this, is pressure treated wood safe for fish?
Exposure of fish to wood treatment solutions can rapidly cause harmful effects and death to fish at concentrations below 0.1 ppm. Until recently, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was widely used to treat wood because it is water insoluble, making it preferable over pentachlorophenol which dissolves in water.
Similarly, you may ask, is it safe to use pressure treated wood inside?
The simple answer is pressure-treated lumber can be used in any interior application except cutting boards and countertops. The reason lumber is treated is to protect it from exterior elements that might cause rot, decay or termite infestation.
The truth is as soon as the wood is dry enough, it is ready to be stained. There is no waiting period for today's pressure treated wood to let chemicals leach out. Waiting too long to stain and protect your deck means the wood loses more of its ability let the stain adhere.