News Coverage
Is your deck harming your health?
Recent tests revealed dangerous levels of arsenic in wooden decks.
Published April 30, 2003
The pressure-treated pine often used to build decks, picnic tables, and playground sets can contain high levels of carcinogenic arsenic, according to an analysis of 263 decks performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit watchdog and research group in Washington, D.C. Through everyday skin contact, you could be absorbing more arsenic than the government deems safe, says Sean Gray, an EWG researcher.
To reduce your risk of exposure, take these steps: Seal your deck with an oil-based sealant or polyurethane at least once every six months, and replace the wood on high-traffic areas with plastic composite materials or untreated wood like cedar. You should also wear gloves when working with treated wood, cover your picnic table with a plastic tablecloth, wash your hands after touching treated wood, and avoid storing things under your deck where rain can wash arsenic from the wood onto them.