News Coverage
No stupid questions
Unsafe Wood
Published December 1, 2002
Q. We have outdoor furniture made from pressure-treated wood, which I've heard is dangerous. Should we replace it?
A. Wood manufacturers haven't admitted that preservatives in their products cause health problems, but they've agreed to stop producing pressure-treated wood for residential use by the end of 2003,proof enough for us. We suggest that you replace as much as you can, especially if one of your pieces is a children's play set. Most pressure-treated wood is preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in order to protect it against decay. Studies have shown that arsenic readily leaches into the soil from CCA and is easily absorbed through the skin. Arsenic is a known carcinogen: Long-term, low-level exposure to the chemical has been linked to skin, lung, and bladder cancers.
Even relatively old treated wood can pose a health threat. Tests by the Environmental Working Group found that decks, picnic tables, and play set up to 15 years old still had high levels of arsenic near the surface. Soil underneath the structures was also contaminated, two out of five samples contained enough arsenic to qualify as EPA Superfund sites.
If you have a deck or other pieces that are too costly to replace entirely, make them safer by replacing sections that come into contact with skin, such as hand railings, with naturally rot-resistant wood such as cedar. Recycled plastic lumber is another good choice. Seal remaining pieces with paint or a standard deck treatment every six months.