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Dislodgeable Residues and Coatings for CCA Treated Wood
Residues that contain arsenic, chromiumand copper can transfer to skin or clothing when people come into contact with CCA-treated wood. This type of wood may be found in play equipment, decks or picnic tables. In these settings, there is increased opportunity for exposure to arsenic, particularly through hand-to-mouth contact. CCA-treated wood continually accumulates dislodgeable residues on the wood surface as it is weathered by the sun, wind and water. While CCA-treated wood is no longer used in most residential construction projects, many structures built before 2003 can still be found in residential areas. Coating existing structures with paint or other types of wood sealants can reduce the amount of residue leaching into the environment and transferring to skin or clothing during contact. These coatings may need to be reapplied on a regular basis to minimize the risk of contact with CCA residues.
If you have questions about CCA, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (7:30am-3:30pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Additional Resources:
- Arsenic dislodged from CCA treated wood surfaces - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
- Arsenic on the Hands of Children after Playing in Playgrounds - Kwon et al., 2004; Environmental Health Persectives
- Chromium on the Hands of Children After Playing in Playgrounds Built from Chromated Copper Arsenate Treated Wood - Hamula et al., 2006; Environmental Health Persectives
- CCA Playground Equipment Fact Sheet - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Questions and Answers on Sealant Studies (interim results) - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Sealant Study Overview - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Sealant Study Protocol - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Sealant Studies - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- CCA Playground Equipment Fact Sheet - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Effectiveness at Reducing Leaching (SAP final report) - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- CCA Questions and Answers - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Coatings Minimize Leaching from Treated Wood - USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Professional finishing of CCA pressure-treated wood - USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Paint, stain, varnish, or preservative? It's your choice - USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Surface Coatings in Reducing the Dislodgeable Arsenic from New Wood Pressure-Treated with CCA - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Coatings in Reducing Dislodgeable Arsenic, Chromium, and Copper from CCA Treated Wood - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
