Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/819351
36 PalletCentral • March-April 2017 palletcentral.com consult your chemical provider so that your chosen formulation is right for the conditions of use. Concluding Thoughts Trying to prevent mold on pallets can be a difficult proposition, particularly if the end user of the pallet is concerned about chemical treatments. Moisture control and the use of alternative chemicals may be the solution particularly if the chemicals are able to kill mold at the roots. Dr. Morrell suggests that pallet manufacturers that want to test the claims of chemical companies implement the following testing procedure: 1. Dip or spray the surface on half the length of a board in the proposed treatment. The other half of the board remains as an untreated control. 2. Treat 15-20 boards with that system. 3. If appropriate, use different levels of a system and then include a known treatment to serve as a positive control (i.e. it will protect the wood). 4. Stack the boards by treatment and then cover with plastic to retard drying. 5. The bundles of wood are stored in a shady area for one month. 6. Visually examine the boards for degree of discoloration, which serves as the measure of effectiveness. These trials can be run any time of the year and provide a very severe measure of treatment effectiveness on actual production wood. PC To stay informed and add to the ongoing dialogue about mold and the wood packaging industry, subscribe (it's free) to the NWPCA Blog: "Mold-Tips of the Trade" at PalletCentral.com. Learn what industry thought leaders are saying about mold, and share best practices via NWPCA Blogs. BLOG Sanjay Gupta has been researching and writing about mold, asbestos and IAQ issues since 2011 and has written more than 300 articles with the goal of educating consumers. He is also the CEO of CitriFresh Distribution, the Marketing Director of Wonder Makers Environmental, and the Director of Business Development for Wood Pallet Cleaners.