Panel Finds No Danger From Playground Wood
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Panel Finds No Danger From Playground Wood
Date:
Tue, 13 Aug 2002 08:49:57 -400
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Panel Finds No Danger From Playground Wood
FAIRFAX, Virginia, August 8, 2002 (ENS) - The Florida Physicians Arsenic Workgroup has concluded that normal use of pressure treated wood in playgrounds is not harmful to children.
The panel of six physicians was appointed last year at the request of the Florida Department of Health to study the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood preservative that contains arsenic.
"The amount of arsenic that could be absorbed from playground soil and CCA treated wood is not significant compared to natural sources and will not result in detectable arsenic intake," the panel wrote in a report issued this week.
As a result, the physicians concluded that the level of "arsenic in or around CCA treated wood in playgrounds and recreational facilities does not appear sufficient to adversely affect the health of children or adults."
The wood products industry says the report supports their assertions that wood treated with CCA is safe for a variety of uses, including playground equipment.
"After a year spent reviewing all aspects of CCA treated wood, this expert panel of doctors came to a simple conclusion - CCA treated wood is safe for use in playsets," said Parker Brugge, executive director of the Treated Wood Council and president of the American Wood Preservers Institute. "Treated wood has been used safely for nearly 70 years. Based on this report, parents can be assured that children can safely play on recreational equipment made of preserved wood."
The Florida Physicians Arsenic Workgroup conducted an extensive review of the medical literature concerning the toxicity and carcinogenicity of arsenic, its environmental and natural occurrence, bioaccessibility and bioavailability, and past medical uses.
"Used since the 1960s, CCA treated wood has never been linked to skin diseases or cancer in children exposed during recreational use," the panel wrote.
In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached an agreement with the construction industry to reduce the use of CCA treated wood in homes, playground equipment and other consumer goods. By January 2004, the agreement would move consumer use of treated lumber products away from wood treated with CCA in favor of new alternative wood preservatives.
The initiative affects almost all residential uses of CCA treated wood, including wood used in play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and walkways/boardwalks.
Environmentalists have argued that the measures do not move far enough, or fast enough, to protect the public health. Last December, 13 national, regional and state environmental groups petitioned the EPA to ban CCA and other wood preservatives, including dioxin containing pentachlorophenol (penta).
After the EPA's February announcement, the groups said that while they welcome any action that reduces continued exposure to these chemicals, which are linked to cancer, nervous system damage and birth defects, they say that there is no justification to allow continued public exposure because alternative materials are available.
"Nothing short of a ban of all uses of the hazardous wood preservatives will protect the public from the chemical's short and long term adverse health effects," said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides. "Since less toxic and non-toxic alternatives are available for all wood preservative uses, it is wrong and unnecessary to allow any use to continue," Feldman added.
More information on the EPA announcement is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/1file.htm
Information from the wood treatment industry is available at: http://www.treatedwood.com
A copy of the Florida report is available at: http://www.preservedwood.com
Well Mr. Helliker, I find it interesting that recently "scientists" have proven dioxin does not harm anyone in New Zealand, that pesticides do not cause cancer and that arsenic is "safe" for children. Amazing how "safe" your "registered" POISONS are becoming. How can you tell when one of these "experts" is lying? If their lips move "they' are lying.
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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