Posted by warren godson (203.87.57.243) on November 10, 2002 at 08:09:11:
Problem: How do you inform a local community who recently raised $A250,000 to build a Children,s Playground (Large Castle like wooden structure entirely made out of CCA and located on low lying flats adjacent to a river)that this playgroung is a potential health hazard (exposure to arsenic)to their children. All the work was done by a massive number of community volunteers in just a couple of days.And Iam sure non of these workers (during the construction) took any of the prescibed stringent CCA precautions Eg Using Gloves,Mask & googles & sawn CCA wood dust & chippings. I beleive thatthe local goverment environment officer,s did not tell the local community(failure of a duty of care)of the dangers of CCA & Children.The only compensating factor is that in this large CCA playground, all of the structured timbers appeared to be sealed with oil. The dangers of CCA is well known by SA government EPA and yet the silence of governments on informing the public on CCA hazards & children is deafening .The only comment I got from a government EPA official was that "CCA could be the Asbestos of 21st Century".In South Australia CCA is everywhere! Many ---many primary schools have CCA playgrounds and yet no official precautions /action plans have been taken to alert coimmunity of heath hazard of CCA.Community is in the dark!The suppression by governments of the hazards of CCA exposure to children has been aided by a compliant media (Only #1 article anyone suggestions of how to get the Australian communities attention focused on CCA?
Note On request I can supply info such as photos of this $A250,000 CCA playgound!
PS Burning CCA :
Is the toxic gas given off only Arsenate Trioxide(As 03)& or dioxide(As02) & or what other gases? As Iam chasing up a recent fire which occured locally. A TREATED TIMBER (CCA) SCOUT HALL was partially burnt down. Questions:Did firefighters take precautions agaist inhalation?& what was the levels of the toxic gas exposure to the local community neighborhood.Have they been surved for after effectsof fire ?Please advise on gas only .I am aware of toxic ash from a recent Florida paper on CCA.
Regards Warren Godson