Arsenic – Poisonous Wood

Most of the pressure-treated, “outdoor” wood used in playground equipment, decks and picnic tables is preserved with the arsenic containing compound known as CCA (chromated copper arsenate). The U.S. EPA has announced the phase-out of arsenic treated wood for residential uses, responding to health concerns from unnecessary exposures, especially to children, and demands from citizen advocacy organizations.

National Academy of Sciences reports that arsenic can affect every system in our bodies. Arsenic, even in very small amounts, is known to cause skin, lung and bladder cancer and is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other health effects. Therefore, we need to eliminate any unnecessary exposures.

Public interest organizations tested the surface of samples of CCA treated wood and found that arsenic levels ranged from 18 to 1,020 micrograms in an area the size of an average 4-year-old’s handprint. National do-it-yourself chains such as Home Depot and Lowes are facing class action law suits for allegedly selling the wood without informing consumers of the health risks it poses.

The phase-out of retail CCA wood sales will not take full effect until December 2003. Homeowners should carefully consider alternative woods and preservative treatments until then. They also should consider the continued use and disposal of existing structures and outdoor furniture, such as picnic tables, and the possible benefit of sealants and covering in reducing exposures.