News Coverage
Environmentalists Seek Recall of Arsenic Treated Playsets
Published March 18, 2003
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a national watchdog organization based in the nation's capital, has again asked the federal government to prohibit the use of arsenic treated wood in playsets and to order a consumer recall of existing equipment.
More than 90 percent of existing wood playground equipment in use has been treated with an arsenic based pesticide called chromated copper arsenate, which protects wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents.
In February, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal government agency, released a study that found that children face increased risks of developing lung or bladder cancer if they use playground equipment treated with chromated copper arsenate.
"Arsenic in existing play structures is a public health problem very similar in magnitude and certainty to lead paint," said Jane Houlihan, EWG vice president for research in testimony before the CPSC at a public hearing Monday. "Both present significant health risks that last long after regulatory action banning their sale and use."
The Consumer Product Safety Commission held the hearing to consider the petition filed in June 2001 by EWG and the Healthy Building Network. Chromated copper arsenate is a registered chemical pesticide that is subject to EPA regulation, but the playground equipment made with CCA treated wood is the jurisdictional responsibility of the Commission.
A CPSC study released in February found that two to 100 of every one million children who are frequently exposed to CCA treated wood risk developing lung or bladder cancer from that exposure. The increased risk from CCA treated wood is in addition to other risks of developing cancer.
In wake of that report, CPSC Chair Hal Stratton recommended that parents and caregivers thoroughly wash childrens' hands with soap and water immediately after youngsters play on playground equipment made of the treated wood.
He did not call for a ban on the arsenic based chemical and said that the Commission should wait for the EPA to finish its own study of the health risks from CCA treated wood. This decision outraged many environmentalists, who believe the risks are well documented and merit immediate action.
"We recommend that CPSC immediately recall playsets on public playgrounds and require the treated wood industry to directly refund consumers who have purchased arsenic-treated wood playsets," Houlihan said.
CPSC will be considering the testimony at Monday's hearing before issuing its decision on the issue.