Dangers of Treated Wood

• The lumber used in some playgrounds may be exposing children to arsenic.playground equipment 2 image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com
  
  Treated wood will not rot when exposed to the outdoors, and termites will not eat it. The chemicals used in the treatment are ammonia, copper, chromium and arsenic. Wood is either impregnated with CCA (Chromium-Copper-Arsenic) or ACA (Ammoniacal Copper Arsenate). Researchers are concerned that these chemicals do more harm than good, since all are environmental toxins, especially arsenic. By understanding these concerns, you will be able to make an informed decision before using treated wood for your next outdoor building project.
  
  

Chemical Leaching

• According to Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott at Washington State University, the chemicals used to treat lumber leach out into the environment. The process occurs slowly over time. As rain washes the surface, the chemicals get carried along by the water. All the chemicals are toxic, especially arsenic, and gradually accumulate in the surrounding soil.
  
  

Effects on Edible Plants

• In 2003, researchers Xinde Cao and Lena Q. Ma at the University of Florida ran extensive studies on CCA treated lumber and edible plants. They concluded that edible plants grown near treated lumber uptake (absorb) the chemicals leached into the soil. The absorbed chemicals then travel to the edible parts. In controlled studies, carrots and lettuce had elevated levels of arsenic when grown near CCA treated lumber.
  
  

Children's Playhouses

• Many children's playgrounds were made with CCA treated lumber until 2004, when it was voluntarily discontinued in residential applications. Researchers at Purdue University found traces of arsenic on children's hands after playing on the structures. Children can ingest arsenic easily by hand to mouth contact. By frequently playing on CCA treated lumber, unsafe levels of arsenic may be accumulated in the child's body.
  
  

Sawdust in Construction

• While discontinued in residential applications, sawdust is still widely used in construction, such as poles and timbers. All researchers concur that during the construction process, the sawdust produced is laden with arsenic, and this can be easily inhaled. Furthermore, arsenic accumulates on workmen's clothes and can be transported away from the job site.
  
  

Storm Runoff

• During rainstorms, chemicals leach out of treated wood and enter the storm drain system. As storm drains funnel water out to sea or lakes, heavy metals and arsenic may contribute to the pollution of the environment. Another concern is that pollutants are filtering down to the subterranean water tables, affecting well water.