Whats being done about the health threat posed by CCA-treated wood?
In response to mounting evidence that arsenic is a more potent carcinogen than originally thought, the United States and many other countries have or are in the process of phasing out CCA-treated wood. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the wood products industry negotiated a voluntary phase out of CCA-treated lumber used in residential applications. This action stopped the manufacture of CCAtreated wood for most residential uses as of January 1, 2004. However, this action doesnt address the many existing CCA structures currently in use and companies are allowed to sell off any existing stock produced before the deadline. Public education campaigns like the Center for Environmental Healths Safe Playgrounds Project are being launched to inform communities on how to minimize risk. An ongoing study sponsored by the US EPA and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is evaluating the effects of sealants at reducing the risks due to surface residues of arsenic on tr
