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At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.
The Poisonwood Rivals: Table 1: Testing results from The Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse in 13 metro areas across the United States
| Average arsenic that rubbed off of wood from an area the size of a 4-year-old's handprint* (micrograms) |
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| Wood tested | The Home Depot, 13 stores | Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, 5 stores | Range for all 18 stores | |
| 2x4 | Decks and playsets - posts, rail caps, benches | 219 | 282 | (36-1020) |
| 4x4 | Support posts for decks and playsets | 245 | 321 | (33-680) |
| 2x6 | Picnic tables tops, some playsets and deck rail caps | 280 | 211 | (24-785) |
| Decking | Most common wood for deck surfaces (5/4"x6") | 144 | 267 | (18-540) |
* Size of a single handprint of a 4-yr old is about 100 cm2, calculated as one-quarter of the
surface area of the hands, based on EPA body surface area data (EPA 1997)
Source: Environmental Working Group. Compiled from EWG test data results.
