A Question of Arsenic
How to Make Older Playgrounds
and Play Structures Safer for Children
By Dixie Jordan
Copyright
2004 by Parents' Press, all rights reserved
Originally published in the May 2004 print edition of Parents'
Press
Until recently, most backyard play structures
were made of wood injected with chromated copper arsenate (CCA),
a preservative and pesticide that contains arsenic a potent
cancer-causing agent and poison.
By the end of 2003, though, most play
structure manufacturers had phased out CCA-treated wood in favor
of newer, safer alternatives. They joined makers of other CCA-treated
products, such as lumber for decks, fences, and picnic tables,
in a voluntary ban prompted by research, reports, and lawsuits
from nonprofit groups concerned about the risks of arsenic exposure
on consumers and, especially, children.
That should be the end of the story.
Unfortunately, it's not.
The ban, brokered by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), allowed stores to sell their remaining
stock of CCA-treated play structures and other products. Even
now, more than two years after the ban was announced, consumers
have reported seeing arsenic-treated play equipment still for
sale especially in nationwide chain stores, said Renee
Sharp, senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group (EWG)
and principal author of "Poisoned Playgrounds" in a
telephone interview.
And, of course, many arsenic-treated
play structures remain in use both in backyards and in
public playgrounds.
"The EPA has given very little
guidance on making these older structures safer," says Sharp.
And while the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) has acknowledged the elevated risk of
cancer posed by arsenic-treated wood, she says, the commission
has also taken a "don't worry" position toward older
backyard structures and the soil beneath them.
Meanwhile, the EPA is conducting two
long-term studies: an assessment of risks posed to people and
the environment by arsenic-treated wood, and a study of the effectiveness
of various sealants on treated wood. The risk assessment should
be released with a year, the sealant recommendations a little
later, according to EPA spokesperson David Deegan.
What's Wrong with Arsenic?
"Arsenic is one of the most potent
carcinogens [cancer-causing agents] known," Sharp says.
She gave more details in a press release
issued when EWG and the Healthy Building Network first published
"Poisoned Playgrounds":
"We know that arsenic in drinking
water is dangerous for kids, but what we found was that the arsenic
in lumber is an even greater risk.
"In two weeks, an average 5-year-old
playing on an arsenic-treated playset would exceed the lifetime
cancer risk considered acceptable under federal pesticide law."
While Sharp says she is most concerned
about the long-term health effects of arsenic, she told Parents'
Press that it presents more immediate dangers as well.
"Certain individuals are more sensitive
to the acute toxicological effects of arsenic than others,"
she says. This likely accounts for the acute reactions sometimes
seen in workers exposed to chromated copper arsenate during the
manufacturing process.
However, mild cases of arsenic poisoning may not be detected,
since its symptoms mimic those of the flu.
Since the amount of arsenic released
from treated wood is highest in the beginning, a child especially
sensitive to arsenic is likely to react when a CCA-treated structure
is first installed, Sharp says.
Sealing Older Structures
"If you can replace an arsenic-treated
play structure, that's clearly the best thing to do," Sharp
says. Suggested replacements are structures made from sustainably
harvested, naturally rot-resistant woods like cedar, of sets
made from metal or plastic (but not from PVC - polyvinyl cloride).
If you can't replace, for financial
or other reasons, EWG recommends that you seal the wood. Reapply
the sealant at least once a year. A new coat of sealant every
six months is even better. EWG tests show a definite difference
in arsenic levels between recently sealed wood and wood sealed
more than six months earlier.
What are the most effective sealants?
Sharp cites research done by David Stillwell of the Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station. He found that the following
three substances reduced the amount of arsenic exposure "significantly"
by about 95 percent:
 Polyurethane. Unfortunately, polyurethane
has "some other toxic issues," according to Sharp.
Spar
varnish, often used on boats. A Parents' Press staff member who
has used this coating frequently reports that it is difficult
for an inexperienced person to apply. Spar varnish is also notoriously
slow to dry, sometimes taking weeks to dry completely.
Latex
acrylic sold color stain [for wood]. This is probably the most
practical choice for the average person, and appears just as
effective as polyurethane and spar varnish.
The fourth sealant Stillwell tried,
semi-transparent oil stain containing alkyl resins, was not nearly
as effective as the other three.
Not so incidentally, these measures
also apply to other wooden structures for outdoor residential
use, such as decks, picnic tables, and benches. People who have
arsenic-treated wooden decks should not sand or pressure-wash
them, and "deck brighteners" may actually increase
the release of arsenic, Sharp cautions. Instead, clean decks
with a soap and water solution and disposable cleaning supplies.
Proper Disposal
If you decide to remove or replace an
older, arsenic-treated play structure, you need to follow a few
safety rules.
"Whatever you do, don't burn the
wood," says Sharp. "This releases toxic fumes which
can be quite dangerous."
She also cautions against cutting any
of the wood during or after removal, since inhaling the arsenic-laden
sawdust increases your chances for immediate and long-term health
problems. If you must saw, wear gloves and a protective mask.
Then clean up and dispose of every bit of the sawdust.
The EPA also recommends that after working
with the wood, you should wash all exposed areas of your body,
especially the hands, thoroughly with soap and water before eating,
drinking, toileting, or using tobacco products. You should also
wash your work clothes separately from other household clothing
before wearing them again.
Arsenic-treated wood from a play structure
should go to a hazardous waste disposal area, Sharp says, although
in most areas, a loophole in the law allows you to put it out
with other household trash headed for an ordinary landfill. Still,
leaching from these landfills is elevating arsenic levels the
environment. The best solution may be to use any special hazardous
waste collection day that your garbage service provides.
Other Concerns
While you shouldn't sand arsenic-treated
wood, you do need to look out for splinters, which can be dangerous.
The EWG recommends that you do not allow children to play on
rough wood surfaces.
The soil, sand, or sod beneath and immediately
around an arsenic-treated play structure can easily become contaminated.
Whether or not you replace your play structure, the EWG recommends
testing what lies beneath for high arsenic content. Reliable
test kits for wood and soil can be ordered through the EWG website
(see sidebar).
"If you area removing an older
structure on grass, it's recommended that you resod the area
within a four-foot radius of the posts.
On the Playground
California cities are required to reapply
sealant every two years to playground structures made of arsenic-treated
wood, but in reality, many don't adhere to this schedule, according
to Sharp. It's wise to follow a few safety precautions if your
children play on these structures.
The EPA recommends:
Make sure children wash their hands thoroughly
after contact with the wood, especially before eating and drinking.
Ensure that food does not come into direct
contact with any treated wood. (Picnic tables and benches, for
instance, are often made of arsenic-treated wood.)
Editor's note: For their help with
this article, many thanks to Renee Sharp, senior analyst at EWG's
Oakland office and principal author of "Poisoned Playgrounds"
and other reports that helped bring about the CCA ban; to Micaela
Davis, corporate accountability researcher at the Center for
Environmental Health in Oakland; and to David Deegan, EPA spokesperson.
|
