Carcinogens in Playsets, Decks, Picnic Tables
Carcinogens in Playsets, Decks, Picnic Tables
EPA: Protect Children From Arsenic in Pressure-Treated Wood
Nov. 14, 2003 -- Arsenic in pressure-treated wood -- used in playsets, decks, and picnic tables across the country -- poses an increased risk of cancer to children who play and eat on wood surfaces, a new EPA study shows.
Chromium copper arsenate (CCA) is an arsenic-based preservative used in pressure-treated wood sold at home improvement stores across the country. More than 90% of all outdoors wooden structures in the U.S. is made from arsenic-based treated wood.
The EPA and the wood industry agreed last year to phase out production of this arsenic-based compound and wood treated with it. However, existing structures are still a health concern, the report indicates.
"This study confirms that we need to protect children from arsenic-treated wood at playgrounds and in their backyards across the country," says researcher Jane Houlihan, in a news release. Houlihan is with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group based in Washington, D.C., which prepared the study for the EPA.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), voiced similar concerns.
"We don't want to be alarmist, but we do believe that precautions are in order ... there is reason for concern," says Eric Criss, a spokesman.
The wood industry voluntarily took the action in response to consumer pressure, says Jim Hale, with the Wood Preservative Science Council. "We've never thought that CCA-treated wood posed any health risk to the public or the environment and we maintain that," he tells WebMD.
However, arsenic is a known human carcinogen, and children come into contact with it when they touch the wood. Experts say that children who repeatedly come in contact with the preservative face an increase risk of developing cancer of the lungs, bladder, or skin later in life.
The EPA study shows:
"Parents should watch their children and have them avoid hand-to-mouth contact as much as possible while playing on playgrounds with CCA-pressure treated wood," Criss tells WebMD.
Children should not eat on wood surfaces and should wash their hands after touching the wood, he says.
Carcinogens in Playsets, Decks, Picnic Tables
EPA: Protect Children From Arsenic in Pressure-Treated Wood
Nov. 14, 2003 -- Arsenic in pressure-treated wood -- used in playsets, decks, and picnic tables across the country -- poses an increased risk of cancer to children who play and eat on wood surfaces, a new EPA study shows.
Chromium copper arsenate (CCA) is an arsenic-based preservative used in pressure-treated wood sold at home improvement stores across the country. More than 90% of all outdoors wooden structures in the U.S. is made from arsenic-based treated wood.
The EPA and the wood industry agreed last year to phase out production of this arsenic-based compound and wood treated with it. However, existing structures are still a health concern, the report indicates.
"This study confirms that we need to protect children from arsenic-treated wood at playgrounds and in their backyards across the country," says researcher Jane Houlihan, in a news release. Houlihan is with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group based in Washington, D.C., which prepared the study for the EPA.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), voiced similar concerns.
"We don't want to be alarmist, but we do believe that precautions are in order ... there is reason for concern," says Eric Criss, a spokesman.
The wood industry voluntarily took the action in response to consumer pressure, says Jim Hale, with the Wood Preservative Science Council. "We've never thought that CCA-treated wood posed any health risk to the public or the environment and we maintain that," he tells WebMD.
However, arsenic is a known human carcinogen, and children come into contact with it when they touch the wood. Experts say that children who repeatedly come in contact with the preservative face an increase risk of developing cancer of the lungs, bladder, or skin later in life.
The EPA study shows:
- 90% of all children face a greater than one in one million cancer risk from their exposure to arsenic-treated wood. Historically, that is the EPA's "level of concern."
- In southern states, 10% of all children face a cancer risk that is 100 times higher because they spend more time outdoors playing.
"Parents should watch their children and have them avoid hand-to-mouth contact as much as possible while playing on playgrounds with CCA-pressure treated wood," Criss tells WebMD.
Children should not eat on wood surfaces and should wash their hands after touching the wood, he says.
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