I heard that there is arsenic in wood used to build outdoor decks, that kids can get the arsenic on their hands and that the stuff is carcinogenic. Do you have any information on this? I’m very worried.
You’re right. There is arsenic in lumber that has been used for years to make decks, fences, picnic tables and even some playground equipment. Technically speaking, the lumber is treated with chromium copper arsenate (CCA), a preservative used to prevent the wood from decaying. The good news is that since the beginning of this year, lumber manufacturers are no longer selling wood impregnated with CCA. But that isn’t much comfort if you have young children and an old deck or old yard and porch furniture.
Although arsenic is a carcinogen, manufacturers insist that the old, treated wood is safe for people, plants and animals when used as recommended. However, advocacy groups maintain that the chemical can rub off on contact and that the lumber remains dangerous for 10 to 15 years. And a staff report to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded that children exposed to the treated wood may face an increased lifetime risk of lung or bladder cancer.
If you have a deck made with CCA-treated lumber, you can test it for arsenic by ordering test kits online for about $20. Results will tell you how much arsenic is in wood. You can then decide if you want to replace the furniture or insist that your kids wash their hands well after playing on it, especially before eating.
You can also protect your family by applying a sealant to CCA-treated wood. Pigmented deck stains provide the most protection, but you’ll have to reseal frequently, as often as twice a year. If you decide to use a sealant, be sure not to sand the deck beforehand ‘sanding will release arsenic-laden sawdust. Be sure to wear a protective mask! And don’t pressure-wash your deck before sealing – the high pressure water can loosen arsenic-contaminated particles and release them into the air. You can learn more about this issue through the Washington-based Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org.
What types of wooden structures have arsenic? Wooden structures built before 2003—like decks, picnic tables and play structures—were often pressure-treated with arsenic. Take action, by using the tips below, to keep your family safe from the arsenic that could be in older wooden structures near your home.
Although arsenic is a carcinogen, manufacturers insist that the old, treated wood is safe for people, plants and animals when used as recommended. However, advocacy groups maintain that the chemical can rub off on contact and that the lumber remains dangerous for 10 to 15 years.
Arsenic-treated wood is the result of a chemical process in which wood is treated with a pesticide/preservative called chromated copper arsenate (CCA) to prevent rotting in lumber designed for outdoor use.
When arsenic treated wood is new, it tends to have a greenish tint. When CCA wood is older, it is harder to tell. Ask your realtor if the seller knows whether CCA wood was used. You can also test the wood to find out if it contains arsenic.
If the wood you are recycling is from 1978 or earlier beware of lead paint. Wood with lead paint can release dust when cut or sanded that will contain lead particles that will make it into the air and then your bloodstream.
In 2003, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the lumber industry agreed to discontinue the use of CCA-treated wood in most residential construction. This agreement was intended to protect the health of humans and the environment by reducing exposure to the arsenic in CCA-treated wood.
Don't burn old treated wood in a campfire. Older pressure treated wood was treated with arsenic, and not a good idea to burn it since you would possibly be breathing in the fumes and smoke. it is a carcinogenic.
Dimercaprol (2, 3 dimercaptopropanol, also known as British anti Lewisite or BAL), was previously the most frequently recommended chelating agent for arsenic. The currently recommended treatment is 2-3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate (DMPS) or meso 2, 3-dimer-captosuccinic acid (DMSA).
Vitamin C: Vitamin C can actually act as a chelating agent and help remove arsenic directly from the bloodstream. Vitamin B and C deficiencies have been linked to poor tolerance of heavy metals, making it easier for a person to have higher levels of toxicity.
Just like when you build a raised garden bed and fill it with soil, there's likely to be trace levels of arsenic in your dirt. That said, there is no extra arsenic chemical added to our pressure-treated lumber designed for residential use.
Pressure treated lumber is considered hazardous waste by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Burning this wood releases the chemical bond that holds the arsenic in the wood and just one tablespoon of ash from the burnt wood contains a lethal dose of this poison.
Do not burn CCA-treated timber in fireplaces, barbecues, wood stoves or any wood fire. In the event of a bushfire, the ash from burnt CCA-treated timber can contain up to 10 per cent (by weight) arsenic, chromium and copper. Swallowing only a few grams of this ash can be harmful.
If you're checking older wood for treatment, cutting against the grain of the wood should reveal that the flesh underneath is not the natural color of the wood. The wood inside should still have slight color distortion. This isn't a defect, but rather evidence that your lumber has been thoroughly treated.
Beyond use of embalming, arsenic was also prevalent in the 19th century architecture scene. Green paints used as the finish on the windows and shutters of many 19th century houses were colored with arsenic which served as a bug repellent for living spaces.
Results of this study indicate that metal concentrations (chromium plus copper plus arsenic) can be as high as 36% of the ash by weight for treated wood samples containing high retention levels (40 kg/m(3)) of CCA.
Pressure treated lumber is considered hazardous waste by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Burning this wood releases the chemical bond that holds the arsenic in the wood and just one tablespoon of ash from the burnt wood contains a lethal dose of this poison.
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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