Winston-Salem Journal
Published January 31, 2006
Q. Can you tell me more about the toxic chemicals in pressure-treated lumber? You mentioned them in an answer warning people about burning the wood. Is it safe for children to play on equipment made from pressure-treated wood? - K.H.
A. The chemical in pressure-treated wood that has drawn the most attention is chromated copper arsenate (a kind of arsenic). The arsenic prevents rot and insect damage.
Since 1993 , It has been banned for use in residential wood products.
But equipment made with CCA wood, such as play sets, picnic tables and fences, is still around. And the arsenic is still there, too. Some of it leaches into surrounding soil.
It's not safe to burn the wood because of the toxic smoke and the fact that the chemicals may be concentrated in the ashes. (It's dangerous to burn any treated wood, not just the kind with arsenic.)
But the arsenic in pressure-treated wood can pose a health risk to people who just happen to come in contact with it. Studies have shown a link between exposure to arsenic and certain cancers. Playing on treated-wood structures or sanding the wood exposes a person to the arsenic.
Young children are considered to be at greater risk because they frequently put their hands in their mouths when playing, which increases the chance of ingestion. Some cities and towns have dismantled public playgrounds out of concern for children's exposure to arsenic.
The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies have issued consumer warnings about exposure to the wood.
More information is available on the EPA Web site,
www.epa.gov.
These recommendations are from the state health department. (More information is on the Internet at
www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/oii/ cca.html):
Every one to two years, apply an oil-based, semitransparent stain to treated wood. This will form a barrier that can reduce the amount of arsenic released from the wood.
Keep children and pets away from areas under decks where arsenic may have leached. Don't store toys under decks.
Make sure that children wash their hands thoroughly after playing on wood structures, especially before eating or drinking.
Keep food from direct contact with any treated wood. Cover tables with tablecloths.
Do not use CCA-treated wood to build picnic tables, garden beds or compost bins, and do not grow edible plants near CCA-treated decks.
Replace boards that are touched frequently, such as handrails and seats, with arsenic-free wood.
Yellow pine is the wood most likely to be treated with CCA. A 12-foot section of CCA-treated wood contains about an ounce of arsenic, or enough poison to kill 250 people, says the Environmental Working Group, a consumer watchdog agency.
Parents who are concerned about arsenic in play equipment at home can get a kit fto test soil or wood. Kits, priced from $20 to $35 depending on the kit, are available from the group's Web site.
The site has several reports and stories about arsenic in pressure-treated wood, along with ways to reduce exposure. The main site is
www.ewg.org. Look for arsenic/wood under the quick index.
