Q I’ve read that arsenic is no longer used in treated wood. Is the treated-wood
play structure I built several years ago safe for my kids?
A There’s no need to panic or tear down your play structure, since the health
risk from the arsenic is low, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, the EPA has taken the precaution of
eliminating any exposure to the arsenic found in chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. It banned the use of this wood
preservative by the end of 2003 in materials commonly found around the home.
Click image to enlarge.
Check the labels on treated wood (or
ask the retailer) for the type of chemical used. The label also tells you the handling precautions to
follow.
If this low risk still concerns you, you can apply an
oil-based penetrating stain every couple of years to seal the wood. Instruct your kids to keep their hands out of their mouth
during play, and then to wash their hands with soap when they’re finished playing.
Two common arsenic-free preservatives that will replace
CCA are alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper azole (CBA or CA-B). Both appear to resist bugs, mold and rot as
effectively as CCA. The downside is that, since these preservatives contain more copper, the wood will be more corrosive to
nails, screws and other hardware.
Always follow the handling precautions on the label:
Wear a dust mask and goggles when cutting or sanding, wear gloves when working with treated wood, and toss scraps for regular
trash collection. Also, do not burn treated wood.
