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News Release
Executive Summary
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Simple Safety Steps
What the Arsenic Wood Lobby Would Like You to Believe About Their Dangerous Product
Wood Industry Lobbyists Negotiate to Halt EPA's Cancer Risk Assessment
EWG Statement on the Phase-Out of CCA (Feb 2002)
RELATED REPORTS
All Hands on Deck
Nationwide consumer testing of backyard decks and playsets shows high levels of arsenic on old wood [more]
Poisoned Playgrounds
EWG and the Healthy Building Network petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the sale of arsenic-treated lumber for playgrounds [more]
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Healthy Building Network
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The Poisonwood Rivals
The Dangers of Touching Arsenic Treated Wood
What the arsenic wood lobby would like you to believe about their dangerous
product
Arsenic wood lobby claims: Very little arsenic rubs off the wood after it's
in your backyard.
Scientific studies show: Significant amounts of arsenic are easily wiped
off of decks and playsets for years, far more on average than the
Environmental Protection Agency allows in drinking water. At least seven
studies from state health departments, the wood industry, university
researchers, federal agencies and independent consumer test programs show
that, on average, 16 times more arsenic rubs off the surface of the wood
than EPA allows in a 6-ounce glass of water.
Scientific "hand loading" and "wipe" studies showing high level of arsenic
easily wiped from the surface of arsenic-treated wood:
- California Department of Health Surfaces (CADHS). 1987. Evaluation of
hazards posed by the use of wood preservatives on playground equipment.
State of California. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment,
Deoartment of Health Services, Health and Welfare Agency.
- Riedel D, D Galarneau, J Harrison, DC Gregoire and N Bertrand. February
1991. Residues of arsenic, chromium and copper on and near playground
structures built of wood pressure-treated with CCA type preservatives.
Health and Welfare Canada (unpublished).
- Stilwell DE. 1998. Arsenic from CCA-treated wood can be reduced by coating.
Frontiers of Plant Science.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 1990. Estimate of risk of
skin cancer from dislodgeable arsenic on pressure treated wood playground
equipment.
- Maine Bureau of Health/Environmental Toxicology Program. 1998. Evaluation
of Children's Health Hazards from Arsenic Exposure with the Use of
CCA-Treated Wood in Residential Structures and Municipal Playgrounds.
Draft. August 1998.
- Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). 1998. Metal removal from
CCA-treated lumber under simulated normal use conditions. Report to Osmose.
November 23.
- Environmental Working Group and Health Building Network (EWG and HBN).
2001. The Poisonwood Rivals. A report on the dangers of touching arsenic
treated wood. November 2001. Available online at www.ewg.org.
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