CCA News & Information Articles

Safety Officials Against Wood-Arsenic Ban 10-14-2003 Hi Everybody, I must say that I am not surprised by the below turn of events. I wrote my list some time ago on the fact that there were those who were working on the cca issue who were softening their stands. The CPSC was handpicked by an industry/scientist group who meets on dealing with the issues surrounding cca wood. I believed their choosing this consumer group as the one to present on health concerns of cca wood clearly showed what we would expect in the future. There were certainly better choices if you wanted to discuss real health risks. Here is a quote from an email on this subject by a scientist/industry group that was sent to me, certainly not with their knowledge. “ A presentation will also be solicited on human health impacts of treated wood products. The TAC agreed to request this presentation from a representative from the Consumer Products Safety Commission, preferably Patricia Bittner.” The amount of money that continues to be spent on wrestling with an issue that has already been studied to death is the perfect example of a government failing to act on known facts. CCA wood is leaching , arsenic alone is a serious threat to the public and the environment. Arsenic contamination continues to grow as a world wide problem. The CPSC in a seriously underestimated risk analysis found cca to present a cancer risk that would under any other circumstances would have brought in an immediate ban. Now we have a statement from them that sounds more like they are working as damage control for the industry. They state that the industry is already removing the product from the market as though this will magically protect children playing on existing structures that could last another twenty to thirty years. Solvents used in staining cca structures may even present a vehicle for the off-gassing of the metals. We certainly know it will not protect children from the already leached arsenic in the soil, it won’t prevent splinter problems and its protection is very limited. If people power wash or sand before staining they will have created more of a problem by releasing arsenic from the wood and further endangering the children. These treatments have not been tested for their safety either according to the Health Canada’s PMRA. Are there any members of government or any agenies who have been elected to serve the public willing to state the truth and begin dismantling these structures that are endangering our children. Let’s hope so because if dollars are more important to our elected official’s than the people they serve we are in deep trouble. Take care everybody and please keep safe. Deborah Is Kids' Castle safe? 05-11-2003 WeatherRegional News Classifieds Photo Galleries Subscribe Business Directory Our Newspaper Other Publications Fun and Games Personal Finance Lifestyles Advertisement Home : News : News : Top Stories Top Stories Is Kids' Castle safe? By Lorraine Sciuto-Ballasy 11/06/2003 email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly Parents should be aware they are exposing their children to more than a good time when they take them to play at Kids' Castle, a popular, community-built play structure constructed in Doylestown Township seven years ago. Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development 04-24-2008 NUMBER 032 l 2nd SESSION l 37th PARLIAMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EVIDENCE Thursday, October 23, 2003 [Recorded by Electronic Apparatus] ©- (1540) [Translation] Judge approves 29 out-of-court settlements involving Kerr-McGee 07-11-2008 Luzerne County Judge Thomas Burke approved 29 out-of-court settlements between the Kerr-McGee Corp. and several hundred area residents who claimed ground contamination from the company's former wood treatment facility in Avoca caused serious health problems or deaths. In the largest settlement, the family of John Gorzkowski, a 32-year-old man who died of leukemia in 1988, was awarded $450,000. The second highest settlement, $234,550, went to James Manley, brother of the late Gail Manley, 41, who allegedly developed liver disease as a result of the contamination and died in 2001. Most of the settlements were in the range of $2,700 to $20,000. NO arsenic-treated playground ban 11-05-2003 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 — Federal regulators decided Tuesday against banning arsenic-treated lumber for playground equipment, saying most manufacturers no longer use the wood-protecting chemical that is believed to increase the risk of cancer. The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously to adopt a staff recommendation that a ban was unnecessary, given the shift away from treated wood in playground structures, decks and picnic tables. Operation Full Stop Yielding Mixed Results 11-04-2003 NEW ORLEANS — A statue of the American hero of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans stands in the center of Jackson Square in the French Quarter, ground zero for what local, state and federal officials dubbed the "second Battle of New Orleans" back in 1998. Today, the second battle for control of the Crescent City rages on, and the stakes are just as high. The enemy is not the British, but invading Formosan subterranean termites. Troops led by Andrew Jackson and armed with artillery and muskets in the first battle have been replaced by entomologists and pest control experts whose weapons include pesticides, bait stations and an annual $5 million congressional appropriation. The $25 million invested to date in the second Battle of New Orleans — codename Operation Full Stop — is nothing compared to the estimated $300 million in damage the Formosan termite causes annually in the New Orleans area alone and $200 million in damage in other parts of Louisiana, according to federal officials. HOP CLOSED AS A PRECAUTION 08-01-2003 As a committee meets to consider the future of the playground at the Marilla Primary School after tests found high arsenic levels seeping from the pressure-treated wood, officials in East Aurora have scheduled tests for the Hamlin Outdoor Playground (H.O.P.) in Hamlin Park. letter to editor 12-15-2003 - The Cape Cod Chronicle Cape Alliance for Pesticide Education PO Box 631 West Barnstable, MA 02668 (508) 362-5927 A local resource for information about toxic chemical pesticides and alternatives to their use Contradictions about chromium in treated wood Oooppppppps what’s that again. No wonder people are confused Hidden Arsenic in Older Play Sets 11-25-2003 The Janak family's outdoor deck was looking more than a little worn two years ago, so they decided to sand and stain it. What the couple did not know was that sanding the pressure-treated lumber was not just creating sawdust, but also scattering particles of arsenic in the air. The deck of their home in Buffalo was a favorite play spot for their daughter, Emily, 6, who has Down syndrome and often chewed on the railing. Shortly after the sanding, Emily became irritable, her hand started to curve in and she lost the ability to pick things up. Production Of Pressure-TreatedLumber Banned 12-31-2003 - KIROTV.com. by Bebe Emerman But, later, after their two young boys were found to have high levels of arsenic in their blood, the Whittrocks called KIRO 7 Consumer Investigators. We tested the children's swing set and found shockingly high levels of arsenic both on the surface of the wood and in the soil. Safety concerns cut down treated lumber used by millions 12-29-2003 - USA TODAY In three days, the pressure-treated lumber used for millions of backyard decks, fences and play sets will head into extinction, its production halted because its arsenic-laced preservatives are considered a cancer risk. No one is ready for what comes next. Arsenic-Treated Wood Can No Longer Be Produced 12-30-2003 It's the end of the line for some dangerous lumber. Pressure-treated wood can be found in some 50 million American homes, but research has found that children who frequently played on structures made from this wood have a higher risk of getting cancer. Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority 12-24-2003 Read about the Australian finding that arsenic treated wood presents a risk, their plans and your opportunity as an individual to submit your views. Arsenic-treated playground equipment faces the chop 12-23-2003 - sydney morning herald Australia's chemical regulator has recommended a ban on arsenic-treated wood in children's play equipment, along with picnic tables, household decking and hand rails, because there may be "undue risk" from frequent exposure to them. By Sean Nicholls Eighth Grader Discovers High Arsenic Levels In Park 12-01-2003 Unknown to the children riding on the sidewalk or playing in the park at Keystone Heights is a secret hidden in the soil that might worry some, and might not bother others. EPA update 11-26-2003 Notice of Receipt of Requests to Cancel Certain Creosote and Acid Copper Chromate (ACC) Wood Preservative Products, and/or to Amend to Terminate Certain Uses of Other Creosote Products; Extension of Comment Period Thames View Marina wins inaugural Green Star award 10-23-2003 In order to protect water quality, the design team for the proposed new marina are replacing creosote pilings and pressure-treated wood with newer environmentally sound pilings EPA Pesticide Program Update 10-24-2003 EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 10/24/03 ************************************************************* IN THIS UPDATE: 1)EPA’s Scientific Advisory Panel to Meet on Chromated Copper Arsenate in Children’s Playground Equipment 2)RN Prescription for an Environmentally Healthy Home (Press Advisory) 3)The “Handbook” on Economic and Environmental Risk to Children (Press Advisory ) 4)“America’s Children and the Environment” Online (Press Advisory) 5)Stop-sale Order Issued to Atlanta Company (Press Advisory) Cadmium Found in 10 More Bodies 10-18-2003 "Never burn anything in fireplaces or wood burners except properly seasoned hardwoods," Baker said. "Never use scrap building materials or treated lumber. Many treated lumbers contain heavy metals that may be released into the air when burned. Lawsuits against Colfax Treating Co. and Durawood 10-17-2003 - Source: Lundy & Davis Law Firm Major Lawsuits Filed Against Colfax and Durawood By Lundy & Davis; Companies Blamed for Serious Health Problems Friday October 17, 11:08 am ET Virginia Tech researchers work to help prevent balcony and deck collapses 10-16-2003 A team of Virginia Tech researchers have produced an inspection manual for residential wood decks and balconies in an effort to curb collapses that occur nationwide and prevent needless tragedies. The new Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies will be available at the end of October from the Forest Products Society. 10-15-2003 - CPSC PUBLIC CALENDAR CPSC PUBLIC CALENDAR Vol. XXXI, No. 3 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Washington D.C. 20207 October 15, 2003 CPSC Hotline: 1-800-638-CPSC(2772) CPSC's Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov Commission Agendas There are no regular Commission briefings or Commission decision meetings scheduled for the week of October 20, 2003. For a recorded message concerning the latest agenda information call (301) 504-7948. Meetings Between Commission Staff and Outside Parties All meetings listed below are open to the public unless otherwise stated. For information on a specific meeting or to attend a meeting, please call the contact person listed for that meeting. Abbreviations: we use asterisks (*) to identify meetings for the current week which have not appeared before in the printed Public Calendar. If the meeting involves discussion of a "substantial interest matter," defined by CPSC's Meetings Policy, we show the date when we posted notice of the meeting on the Master Calendar. The Master Calendar is in the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, telephone (301) 504-7923. We indicate whether a meeting is of substantial interest by the symbol (S); we use the symbol (N) to indicate non-substantial interest meetings. The Commission offices are located in the Bethesda Towers, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. Under the Meetings Policy, a staff person holding or attending a substantial interest meeting must file a log of the meeting with the Office of the Secretary within 20 days. Wednesday, October 22 Kristina Hatlelid, Health Sciences, and other CPSC staff participating in the International Conference on Soils, Sediments, and Water to present the staff's exposure and risk assessment for CCA-treated wood playground equipment; University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. For additional information contact Kristina Hatlelid, (301) 504-7254. (S) Is EPA Taking A Deadly Turn With Chromium VI Wood Preservative? 10-02-2004 - beyond pesticides POISON PLANKS 10-01-2003 TREATING LUMBER WITH chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has largely freed the construction industry from such creepy-crawlies as microbes, termites and other wood-boring insects. Yet in treating wood, we may have traded one danger for another. Research continues to uncover the potential hazards of arsenic and chromium leaching from discarded CCA-treated wood. Before a partial industry phase-out of the wood was announced, between 100 million and 400 million cubic feet of CCA-treated wood was expected to be disposed of in landfills each year through 2016. Although the phase-out should gradually limit the amount of CCA in the waste stream, some states still are taking preventive action now — instead of waiting to find out whether the resulting leachate will contaminate their groundwater. Arsenic Found In Red Mulch 08-24-2003 WESH NewsChannel 2 investigation uncovered a new arsenic threat Thursday against homeowners and children. It comes two years after the arsenic scare that closed Central Florida playgrounds, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported. Arsenic waste dumped Timber treatment company put on notice 08-22-2003 By COLIN MARSHALL Masterton timber treatment plant Treeline Timber is on notice from the Greater Wellington Regional Council to clean up its act after the dumping of toxic sludge Consultation on use of arsenic in wood 08-22-2003 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published a consultation paper on implementation of Directive 2003/2/EC on restrictions on the marketing and use of arsenic in Great Britain. Parks are more enviro-safe 08-21-2003 After spending an afternoon on the playground at the Englewood Recreation Center, Cheryl Roeder always made sure her two children washed their hands. CPSC meets on cca wood 08-06-2003 CPSC PUBLIC CALENDAR Vol. XXX, No. 43 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Washington D.C. 20207 August 6, 2003CPSC Hotline: 1-800-638-CPSC(2772) CPSC's Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov Pressure-treated wood raises health concerns 07-29-2003 watch the news video The LaFantaisie family got sick quickly after they purchased the wood from a store near Ottawa and used it to build a deck in their backyard. New poison wood rules challenged 07-31-2003 The national chemicals regulator has been accused of changing the rules of a review of arsenic-treated wood used in some playground equipment, and this may lead to the wood being banned. Debate reignites over CCA phaseout 07-31-2003 But as the deadline for CCA's phaseout fast approaches, regulators in Florida find themselves faced with an increasingly complicated environmental problem: how should the state effectively dispose of the arsenic-tainted wood that is already in use? Treated timber: consumer safety at risk? 07-29-2003 Reporter: Jane Hansen I's everywhere — retaining walls, fences, cubby houses even playgrounds. Treated timber is so popular because it lasts a long time — but now serious questions are being raised about its safety. among researchers both here and overseas. Arsenic-laced playgrounds put on notice 07-29-2003 - Sydney Morning Herald Arsenic-treated playground equipment will be banned by the end of the year over By Sean Nicholls APVMA press release 07-28-2003 The Board of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) hastoday put industry on notice that it intends to stop the use of Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) as a timber treatment in certain domestic situations such as decking and children's playground equipment by the end of 2003 unless there is conclusive proof that continued use is safe. Home Depot faces class-action suit 07-27-2003 Two Austinites have brought a class-action lawsuit against Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc., claiming it sold potentially toxic wood that's used to build decks and playgrounds. specular 4-part series by a CBS 07-25-2003 Click here to see how the News 3 I-Team investigation unfolded. It began with a tip from a woman in Holland, Michigan, about a telephone pole treated with a wood preservative. What investigative reporter Abbie Boudreau and photojournalist Carter Gent discovered at the family's home led them on a four-month probe of pressure-treated wood products. This report first aired at 6 p.m., July 14, 2003. CCA-treated wood lawsuit dismissed 07-23-2003 Hi Everybody, While the lawsuit has been dismissed ,the judge is not denying a problem, just stating that is not Home Depots responsibility. I would imagine lawsuits will be filed against government or industry next. Take care and please keep safe. Deborah Because of arsenic, don't let water pool or food touch wood 07-12-2003 Q: I recently had an addition built on my deck. Both the original deck and addition are pressure-treated wood, which I have learned is being discontinued because it contains arsenic and is a possible cause of cancer. I have had three dogs die of cancer in recent years. Could the deck be the cause? What can I do about this? Pressure-Treated Wood Poses Danger To Children 07-09-2003 OPEN LETTER ON:LaSalle playground sand not dangerous re:LaSalle playground sand not dangerous, tests say,open letter to the Montreal Gazette Hi Michelle, Having just read your story I am very disturbed at the false sense of security that is being provided by the city of Montreal to the parents of children using the play structures. As one who works on the issue around the world I fully realize the inaccuracies of their statements First of all arsenic does not move well in soil on its own, no more than about two inches. It can of course be pushed further by heavy foot traffic or raking etc. However if this is the concern then two tests at each location would be desirable, one at two inches, one at perhaps six, any further and you are trying to get a safe reading. Children come mostly in contact with the surface of the soil so avoiding testing that area is entirely missing the point. As for the safety of oil based or other sealers, that has not been yet proven., most are neuro-toxic themselves. They do not protect children from splinters, which have been a source of serious infections and even amputations. They must be reapplied every 6 months to 2 years depending on traffic and wear. Sealing will not protect children from the arsenic that has already leached into their play area. Let’s get real here. Arsenic is a carcinogen, causes cellular damage within moments of being taken in. There is no safe level according to our government. “- in 1993 Environment and Health & Welfare Canada stated that arsenic is a "non-threshold toxicant" (i.e., a substance for which there is believed to be some chance of adverse health effects at any level of exposure) (Environment Canada, 1993; ref. Amdur et al., 1991;)” If this situation was parents placing their children in a position of danger we would act to remove the children from such dangerous care. Perhaps someone should save us all from a government that has turned their back on the public it was elected to serve. Take care and please keep safe. Deborah Arsenic and old wood 07-16-2003 Overseas research has come to some worrying conclusions about the effects of chemically treated outdoor timber, writes Sharon Beder. Group claims arsenic danger in Cape playgrounds 07-19-2003 One minute the young mother was enjoying the sunshine watching her 3-year-old son run around the playground; a few moments later she was leaving and wasn't sure if she would ever return. 10 On Your Side Warning, Pressure Treated Wood Could Be Toxic Threat What's more relaxing than hanging out on your deck on a nice summer day? But we have a 10 On Your Side warning, if your deck is made of pressure treated wood, your family could be at risk Treated wood concerns raised 06-13-2003 Some lawmakers want Vermont lumber dealers to stop promoting children’s play sets made with a kind of pressure-treated wood, saying the risk of exposure to arsenic is too great to wait until their sale is phased out next year. PRESS RELEASE CROYDON CONSERVATION SOCIETY INC. High levels of Arsenic, Chromium and Copper found on the surface of CCA treated timber used to build a children’s playground. Chromium scandal 07-10-2003 CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 528 61ST STREET, SUITE A OAKLAND, CA 94609 PHONE: 510.594.9864 FAX: 510.594.9863 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2003 Contact Alise Cappel (Research Director) or Michael Green (Executive Director), CEH Friday (cell) (510) 813-9864 or (510) 378-7333 Monday (office) (510) 594-9864 MEMBERS OF A CALIFORNIA BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON CHROMIUM 6 ACCUSED OF HAVING FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PG&E STATE SENATE HEARING DISCUSSES ALLEGED "MISCONDUCT" [Los Angeles, February 28, 2003] Testimony at a State Senate hearing convened by Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) today revealed accusations that members of a panel convened to identify the risks of a chemical associated with the utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) had long-standing financial relationships with the company. It was reported that at least two members of the panel have reportedly received large sums of money from PG&E during their careers. The panel was convened by the University of California in order to identify the health hazards associated with hexavalent chromium (Chromium 6) contamination of California drinking water. Chromium 6 is the chemical that was the subject of the film "Erin Brockovich." But critics contended today that the panel's report was inappropriately influenced by interests of PG&E and other Chromium 6 emitters. "The public deserves to have government-appointed scientific committees that we can trust," said Alise Cappel, Research Director of the Center for Environmental Health (CEH). At the center of the controversy is Dennis Paustenbach, a toxicologist whose resume reads like a virtual "Who's Who" of chemical, oil, paper and defense companies, including PG&E. The UC Chromate Toxicity Panel scandal marks at least the second time that Paustenbach has been accused of conflict-of-interest as a member of a public health advisory panel. "These accusations of conflict of interest are very significant, and it shows in the report. This report is really more of an advocacy document than anything else," said Cappel. "In light of today's new information about the relationship between several panel members and Chromium 6 polluters, the only responsible thing for the University of California to do would be to withdraw it, and for Cal/EPA to reject it." "This controversy highlights the need for stricter penalties when scientists conceal conflicts of interest," said Cappel. "Until scientists are held more accountable for potential financial conflicts of interest, industry will always be able to find scientists who will speak for them," she said. CEH had four requests for Senator Ortiz and her State Senate colleagues · The Chromate Toxicity Committee Report must be repealed., · Any risk assessments influenced by the report must be withdrawn, including o the San Fernando Basin Risk Assessment and o the recently completed Public Health Goal for Chromium-6, · Until we have more accurate, more protective science, the 1999 Public Health goal for Chromium needs to be reinstated, and · California needs state regulations requiring complete transparency in government science. The Center for Environmental Health is a non-profit organization that works to prevent pollution and eliminate toxic chemicals in communities. City tests playgrounds for arsenic 07-02-2003 Public works crews will collect samples from 31 playgrounds in Winnipeg this week to see if they are leaching arsenic into the soil. Arsenic, part of a common compound used for decades in pressure-treated wood, leaches into the surface gravel around play structures. It has been linked to some cancers. Commonly used wood treatment preservative declared a health hazard 06-20-2003 - The World Today Now to an environmental hazard lurking in many Aussie backyards and children's playgrounds. Copper Chrome Arsenate is one of the most commonly used preservatives for treating wood. Arsenic-treated park tables removed 06-07-2003 Picnic tables made of wood containing arsenic have been removed from Tallman Mountain State Park, and two local officials said the Palisades Interstate Park Commission assured them yesterday that the tables would be replaced at all facilities. N.S. lumber industry built to last 06-06-2003 Taking out the arsenic hasn't poisoned the pressure-treated lumber industry in Nova Scotia. "It's had no serious negative impact on our business," said Gordon Murray, vice-president and general manager of Stella-Jones Inc. in Truro. Maine bans arsenic treated wood; closes federal loopholes 06-04-2003 - preventharm.org Maine legislators today approved the nation's first ban on the sale of wood treated with arsenic, despite strong opposition from the lumber industry. How safe is your mulch? It's hard to tell 06-02-2003 The common landscaping mulch many use around their yards could be toxic, because mulch sometimes comes from chemically treated wood. Whenever that happens, arsenic residue might end up as close as your front door. Healthy Schools Network addresses cca wood 06-03-2003 - Healthy Schools Network, Inc Please see new downloadable "Playgrounds and Arsenic Guide" on the Healthy Schools Network website, with details on NYS regulations banning further installations and requirements for maintenance of existing equipment. cb Claire L. Barnett, Executive Director Healthy Schools Network, Inc. www.healthyschools.org cbarnett@healthyschools.org VM 518-434-9170 Office Tel-518-462-0632 Office Fax-518-462-0433 Cell 518-573-5878 High level of arsenic found at playground 05-22-2003 The Point Defiance Elementary play area's highest average arsenic level was 114 parts per million, or ppm. The highest single concentration at the school was 691 ppm, which the agency said was in an undeveloped area not frequently used by students Environmental Risk Management Authority in New Zealand 05-02-2003 the review , although finding cca wood toxic has not called for a ban Arsenic taints high school field 05-21-2003 - news14.com The board is hoping to finish with the work on the bleachers before next school year. UNION COUNTY -- Arsenic found beneath a Union County high school stadium's bleachers will soon be removed after elevated levels of arsenic were found in the soil two weeks ago. The school board agreed to move quickly for the safety of the students and staff. Bill would restrict disposal of wood containing arsenic 04-14-2003 Michael Belliveau of the Environmental Health Strategy Center says it would make Maine the first state in the country to restrict the disposal of arsenic-treated wood. Arsenic-Treated Playsets Will No Longer Be Sold 03-24-2003 There is new information about an issue I-Team 8 first exposed: the potential cancer-causing wood most decks and kids playsets are made of. The wood, treated with arsenic, will no longer be sold after December 2003. City of San Francsico passes CCA ordinance Attached is the City of San Francisco's ordinance banning the use of arsenic treated wood in City operations and construction projects. There is one exemption to the ordinance granted to salt-water immersion applications (i.e. pier pilings). Safer treated lumber offered 03-25-2003 Safer treated lumber offered Lowe's provides CCA alternative in advance of deadline By Eric Pope / Special to The Detroit News EPA FINALIZES VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION OF VIRTUALLY ALL RESIDENTIAL USES OF 03-20-2003 - www.bancca.org from Joe Prager Dear BANCCA Readers: It should come as no surprise to our readers that residential uses of CCA wood were voluntarily banned in early 2002, but now the EPA has "finalized" this decision. What follows below is their official announcement of this action sent out yesterday. This is good news from the standpoint that the Bush administration, known for its anti-environmental tactics, was recently advised by a corporate "think tank" group to consider reversing the ban on CCA wood. This finalization by the EPA should make that next to impossible. Here is an abstract of the EPA's press release: =============================================== EPA FINALIZES VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION OF VIRTUALLY ALL RESIDENTIAL USES OF CCA TREATED WOOD (Press Advisory 3/20/03) On March 17, EPA granted the voluntary cancellation and use termination requests affecting virtually all residential uses of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Under this action, affected CCA products cannot be used after Dec. 30, 2003 to treat lumber intended for use in most residential settings. This transition affects virtually all residential uses of wood treated with CCA, including play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and walkways/boardwalks. This action was proposed in February 2002 by the registrants of CCA-pesticide products used to treat wood. Phase-out of the residential uses will reduce the potential exposure risks to arsenic, a known human carcinogen,thereby protecting human health, especially children's health and the environment. The current action follows up on the February 2002 publication of a notice of receipt of voluntary cancellation/use termination requests, which also provided an opportunity for public comments to be submitted to EPA. ====================================== Read the remainder of the article here: http://bancca.org/CCA_News/EPA_finalizesban.htm Environmentalists Seek Recall of Arsenic Treated Playsets 03-18-2003 WASHINGTON, DC, March 18, 2003 (ENS) - The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a national watchdog organization based in the nation's capital, has again asked the federal government to prohibit the use of arsenic treated wood in playsets and to order a consumer recall of existing equipment. More than 90 percent of existing wood playground equipment in use has been treated with an arsenic based pesticide called chromated copper arsenate, which protects wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents. Arsenic in Wood - Dangers Persist 03-25-2003 Arsenic in Wood - Dangers Persist by ArchitectureWeek When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a report last year on the safety of pressure-treated lumber, they acknowledged the danger of arsenic, a poison and carcinogen, which is used widely in wood preservatives like chromated copper arsenate (CCA). They announced a phase-out of some uses of the preservative by the end of 2003. Australians review CCA 03-13-2003 The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is to conduct a review of arsenic based timber treatments according to APVMA principal scientist Dr David Loschke. 'The decision to review the registration of these products follows international reports of new scientific information that suggests possible risks associated with their use,' Dr Loschke said. Play sets treated with CCA under fire 03-18-2003 Environmental groups asked the government Monday to ban the use of an arsenic-based pesticide on wooden playground equipment because they say it can increase children's risk of cancer. Menards selling mulch with arsenic? watch video 03-07-2003 Tonight, the home improvement chain Menards is at the center of a state investigation. Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch accuses Menards of knowingly selling wood mulch containing the dangerous chemical arsenic. He filed a court motion today, asking Menards to comply with the investigation. Contact 5 consumer reporter Ross Kirgiss told viewers about the story at 6:00 on Eyewitness News. Attorney General Asks Court To Force Menards To Give Names 03-07-2003 Mar 7, 2003 3:49 pm US/Central (AP) (St. Paul) Attorney General Mike Hatch says Menard Inc. has sold arsenic-tainted mulch and is asking a judge to force the home improvement company to turn over the names of people who worked with the mulch. Treated lumber can be recycled to preserve forests, landfills 02-26-2003 Hi Everybody, I must say that I find this disturbing. Apparently they can’t admit it’s dangerous while in use but they can reach that it’s probably dangerous in the landfilll so let’s move to get it right back into the hands of consumers. They literally admit trying to skip around the wording of the EPA’s wording so they can reuse old cca wood. Anyone else hear the cry of the almighty dollar here. Please write the EPA and ask them to tighten up the wording so those who have been poisoning people with cca wood for years don’t find a loophole to keep it up. The Environmental Protection Agency Williams.Julia@epamail.epa.gov Take care and please keep safe. Deborah Reviewing the Consumer Product Safety Commission's CCA Briefing Report - 02-26-2003 - www.bancca.org by Joe Prager One and 1/2 years, 1 million taxpayer dollars and 387 pages later, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has finally released its colossal two-volume briefing report on the safety of CCA treated wood in playground equipment, weighing in at just over 4 pounds. This treated-wood-report-to-end all-treated-wood-reports sought to calculate the almost-incalculable risk of negative health consequences for children exposed to CCA pressure-treated wood in playground equipment at home, at school, and in our public parks. But, does this monstrous report meet its stated objectives? Is it the Alpha and Omega of treated wood reports, packed with important scientific results? Or, is it just another government boondoggle, filled with endless studies and results? And, what dirty little fact escaped the notice of the news media reports? In this BANCCA Special Report, we review this huge scientific work, and reveal the provocative and unreported details that lie within it, including 10 major flaws that we found during our own evaluation of the CPSC's report. Recognizing playground danger 02-24-2003 - The Christian Science Monitor Byline: Clare Leschin-Hoar Date: 02/24/2003 (MANSFIELD, MASS.)While I was pregnant with our second child, my husband and I decided to purchase a sturdy wooden swing set - one that was strong enough to last through our children's childhood. My daughter and I spent lazy summer afternoons picnicking in the fort, pretending that we were braving the wild frontier while nibbling on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Little did I know that in our reverie we may have been ingesting Playground equipment may pose cancer risk 02-16-2003 - Daily Times Pakistan Children could face an increased lifetime risk of developing lung or bladder cancer from using playground equipment made of wood treated with arsenic, the America’s top product safety official say. For Immediate Release I am announcing that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today scheduled a Commission Briefing for March 12, 2003 to consider the petition to ban the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood in playground equipment. The staff will brief the Commissioners on the materials submitted in its briefing package As of this date, the briefing and public hearing have been re-scheduled for March 17. http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia03/brief/briefing.html and the Commissioners will hear from interested stakeholders. State Legislation Introduced to Ban Toxic Wood Preservatives 02-13-2003 - beyondpesticides.org State Legislation Introduced to Ban Toxic Wood Preservatives Model legislation has just been introduced in California to ban the production and use of the three heavy-duty wood preservatives, chromated copper arsenate (CCA), pentachlorophenol (penta), and creosote. The legislation also repeals the current exemption from hazardous waste law that treated wood enjoys. The bill, SB 202, introduced by Senator Gloria Romero on February 13, 2003, can be found on the Beyond Pesticides website. The bill cites EPA's failure to protect the public's health from wood preservatives over a 20-year period and the international movement to remove these chemicals from the market. Penta and its contaminants, dioxin, furans, and hexochlorobenzene are considered by the United Nations Environmental Program to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These contaminants are restricted under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants signed by the United States in 2001. The Commission of the European Union has moved to severely restrict creosote and curtail CCA. The high risks to children and workers are well-documented. Other states can also consider introducing this model legislation. As background, a model state wood preservatives legislation kit is now posted on the Beyond Pesticides website. It includes a memo on the California legislation, a factsheet on wood preservatives, and a copy of the SB 202. The wood preservative program page also provides numerous other documents which describe the long history of federal inaction on toxic wood preservatives. Please do not hesitate to contact Jay Feldman or Jessica Lunsford for more information and assistance on this. The state wood preservatives legislation kit can be found at: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/WOOD/ALERTS/activist_kit.htm Jay Feldman and Jessica Lunsford Report cites cancer risk of treated-wood playsets 02-11-2003 Hi Everybody, I would like to point out that the risk assessment was conducted on just children’s exposure to playstructures which often have lower levels of concentrations than the wood bought for other purposes. CCA wood comes in three concentration levels and when built by anyone not aware of this, the incorrect concentration could be used. Also add to that the risk of children eating at CCA picnic tables, spending time on cca decks, docks, boardwalks and cca surrounding pool areas and you would be multiplying that risk many times. As one victim of cca poisoning has explained to me, children always putting their hands in their mouths wiggling their milk teeth can bring the contamination directly into the blood stream. Quick action needs to be taken to see this wood banned and every household made aware of the dangers. Take care and please keep safe. Deborah Nelson aims to curb arsenic in wood 02-12-2003 Four days after federal scientists reported that children playing on outdoor wooden playground sets face an increased risk of cancer from arsenic exposure, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has introduced legislation to eliminate the preservative from the treatment of wood products Wood playsets pose a cancer risk, report says 02-09-2003 Scientists at the Consumer Products Safety Commission said Friday that children playing on millions of outdoor wood playground sets nationwide face an increased risk of bladder and lung cancer from arsenic exposure. Study links cancer risk, pressure-treated playsets 02-08-2003 - St. Petersburg Times Hi Everybody, Note the article below where it is mentioned that there is a class action lawsuit in the USA which includes seeking the removal of cca structures. Take care and please keep safe. Deborah Polluted site threatens water supply 02-04-2003 - Gainsville Sun Toxic wood-treating chemicals from Cabot-Koppers in northwest Gainesville, a federally designated hazardous waste site, have leached within 35 feet of the Floridan Aquifer and could threaten the city's underground drinking water supply, some environmental experts say. Strategy for Ottawa's toxic playgrounds irresponsible: group 01-16-2003 OTTAWA - Ottawa city council is being shortsighted, says an environmental research group, because it voted to shelve plans to replace all of the city's play structures made from pressure-treated wood. EU panel bans use of CCA wood 01-17-2003 The European Commission has adopted a directive banning the use of arsenic to treat wood for consumer applications, the commission announced in a statement this week. Youth Office Helps Rebuild Footbridge 01-16-2003 treated wood fails test of time at youth groups expense Arsenic threat lurks in playground soil 01-15-2003 - globe and mail Many playgrounds across Canada are severely contaminated with arsenic that is leaching from wooden equipment treated with preservatives to resist rot, a major environmental group says. New report finds high levels of arsenic in some Canadian playgrounds 01-15-2003 We think of playgrounds as safe places for our children. But in some, children could be at risk from an unlikely source: the very equipment they play on. Playground structures made from a type of pressure-treated wood are leaching high levels of arsenic into the surrounding sand, potentially exposing young children to the carcinogenic heavy metal. Working with a certified lab, Environmental Defence conducted an independent study of 58 pressure-treated wood playgrounds in seven cities across the country to determine the levels of arsenic in the sand. More than half of the playgrounds tested had arsenic levels above the Environment Canada safety guideline for soil (12 ppm). The highest result was over twelve times the federal guideline. EU rules on arsenic use controversial in Denmark 01-14-2003 Five years after the introduction of a national ban on the use of arsenic to preserve wood, the EU may now be forcing Denmark to introduce the substance, which is considered harmful to the environment and especially to ground water. Danish industry also argues that the use of arsenic is unnecessary. State plays down PCB risks 01-11-2003 Arsenic contamination believed to be from cca mulch Kerr-McGee working on land-reuse plan for former Avoca plant 10-14-2003 By Joe Sylvester , Times-Shamrock News Writer 10/14/2003 Kerr-McGee Corp. will come up with a land-reuse plan for its former plant site in Avoca, where contamination spawned class action lawsuits joined by more than 1,000 residents. Borough council President Joseph Satkowski said at its recent meeting the company wrote to the borough seeking comment on the plan that would involve public comment. Solicitor Charles McCormick did not think the company had a project plan yet. "We passed (the matter) on to the (borough) engineer for technical review," the attorney said.