HOW EXTENSIVE IS ARSENIC CONTAMINATION AT A LOCAL PLAYGROUND IN BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS?
William R. Schwartz and Gurpreet Maniktala (Dr. Cielito DeRamos King),Department of Chemical Sciences, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA 02325 Chromated copper arsenic (CCA) is an EPA-registered pesticide and chemical preservative consisting of a mixture of copper chromate and copper arsenate, protecting wood from normal deterioration due to ultraviolet light, insects and microbial agents. Used since the 1940’s CCA treated wood has been used for a variety of building structures. However, CCA contains arsenic, a known carcinogen, which the EPA banned from residential uses on December 31, 2003, in an effort to reduce the possible exposure to arsenic due to leaching. Rainbow’s End playground in Bridgewater, Massachusetts consists of wooden play structures, fences, decks and picnic tables constructed with CCA-treated wood. The grounds of the play area covered with loose pebbles from 5-10 cm deep. The goal of this study is to quantify the levels of arsenic found on the pebbles in o
