"'Mike'" wrote

The auditorium in the Theatre ..... http://www.myalbum.co.uk/Album=KOB47VPH
.... is being sanded back to bare wood and treated. The wood has had all
sorts of polishes and varnishes over the years, some of which would no
doubt be poisonous. If the dust is spread and mixed in with new material
going onto the compost heap, would the action of composting 'kill' the
poisons?


I do hope the people doing that work are wearing proper face masks (not
those cheap things) and protective clothing including covering shoes so they
don't take the dust home with them. Personally I would not take any chances
where my lungs are concerned.
As it's an old place it may well have been painted with lead paint
originally so, no, composting won't improve the toxic nature of the dust.
--
Regards.
Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK