Old Railroad Tie Beds: Creosote Risk to Food Crops & Testing Options

8-year-old garden beds built with creosote-treated ties. Growing apples, pears, lemons, vegetables. Want to test produce for creosote chemicals. Labs? Worth it?

Risk Perspective

Creosote danger is occupational (daily exposure). Garden contact = low acute risk. But: no chemical should contact food if avoidable.

Immediate Mitigation (No Testing Needed)

• Raise bed soil 12–18".
• Line bed interior with 6-mil polyethylene (or pond liner) against ties.
• Rain hits plastic → runs down outside root zone.
• Root barrier = done.

Testing Reality

• Commercial food labs (not consumer) – $1,000+ per sample.
• Test what? Creosote = 300+ compounds. No single "creosote test."
• ATSDR profile: cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs85.html

Bottom Line

Line the beds. Sleep easy. Spend testing money on better soil.