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Caution--Children at Play: How Dangerous Is CCA? Scott Fields Abstract
Illustration: Reuther/EHP Several controversial issues surround wood treated with the pesticide chromated copper arsenate (CCA) : Is it safe to use as designed? Should special precautions be taken for children who play near it? In normal use does it contaminate sites in which it is installed? What are the risks of disposing of CCA-treated wood? In widespread use since the 1970s, CCA is generally thought to be safer than earlier chemicals such as creosote. Scientists and industry professionals are raising concerns, however, that the chemicals are not fixed in the wood permanently and that toxic metals may be freed through burning and decomposition. Because CCA appears so often in playground equipment, new laws are being passed to protect children from direct contact with treated wood.
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