Question:
Children, Playsets and Wood Decks: Safety?

Dear Center for Environmental Oncology,

My deck and my children’s playset are made of pressure treated wood, which I’ve heard could be dangerous. What are my alternatives?

Answer:

For many years, more than 90 percent of all pressure treated wood contained chromium copper arsenic (CCA), an arsenic-laden wood preservative to prevent damage from rot, insects and fungi. Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, can leach to the surface of the wood and into surrounding soil, exposing children to unsafe levels. Tests have shown that even years after installation, arsenic continues to leach from pressure treated wood.

In 2002, wood manufacturers agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to phase out CCA-treated wood by December 31, 2003.

Alternatives to chemically treated wood include recycled plastic or naturally rot-resistant domestic woods like aromatic cedar and black locust. Playground equipment and decking materials may be available in these materials — check with the manufacturers directly.

Taken from Healthy Child, Healthy World website: www.healthychild.org