News Coverage
Arsenic and old decks
Published April 1, 2002
When the EPA announced in February that the lumber industry would voluntarily phase out the use of most pressure-treated wood, consumers worried about their own backyards. This durable lumber, often used to make decks, playsets, fences and picnic tables, is treated with chromated copper arsenate, which contains arsenic. While there's no definitive evidence that CCA-treated wood poses health risks (the EPA has yet to complete its evaluation), studies from seven state health departments, university researchers and federal agencies show that, on average, 16 times more arsenic rubs off of CCA-treated wood in a single swipe than the EPA allows in a six-ounce glass of water. Fortunately there are alternatives on the market, including lumber treated with ACQ (an alkaline and copper substance) and Trek, a synthetic wood substitute. Last July, PlayNation, a leading U.S. wooden playset manufacturer, became the first to switch entirely to ACQ-treated wood.
If you own products made with CCA-treated wood, take the following precautions: Always wash your hands (and your children's) after contact with the wood and refrain from placing foods directly on it (both at home and on the road--think rest-stop picnic tables). Seal your deck, sandbox or playset each year with oil-based paint or a sealant such as polyurethane. Consider replacing parts you and your kids touch often--the handrails on a deck, for instance--with non-CCA-treated wood. Avoid sanding and always wear gloves, goggles and a mask when working with the wood. If you're curious about how high the arsenic levels might be in your yard, the Environmental Working Agency, a nonprofit environmental watchdog organization, offers home testing kits for $ 20. (Go to www.ewg.org to find more information.)
--AMY WILSON