UCPS Votes Against CCA Treated Wood on Playgrounds

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously to deny a petition to ban the use of chromated copper arsenate pressure-treated wood in playground equipment. CCA manufacturers and the Environmental Protection Agency had previously agreed to phase out CCA treatment of wood for most consumer uses by the end of this year.

Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall said, "EPA's cancellation of the registration of CCA as a pesticide will have the effect of prospectively banning the use of CCA-treated wood, and most major manufacturers of playground sets have already ceased using CCA-treated wood. I urge the staff to continue its work to identify stains and sealants that will reduce exposure to arsenic from existing CCA wood structures."

In a report submitted to CPSC Commissioners earlier this year, staff scientists found that some children may face an increased risk of developing lung or bladder cancer over their lifetime from playing on playground equipment made from CCA pressure-treated wood. This risk is in addition to the risk of getting cancer due to other factors over one's lifetime. Not every exposed individual will get cancer at sometime during his/her lifetime.

CPSC and EPA are conducting studies of coatings and sealants to determine effective measures of reducing the amount of arsenic released from CCA-treated wood. Results are expected in the next year.