CCA Contaminated Playgrounds

Municipal Response

Threat to Health

Arsenic – the most troublesome component of the CCA formulation – is toxic to skin and internal organs and is known to be a carcinogen. At high doses, arsenic is a poison that can cause acute organ damage and can even be fatal. However, the levels of exposure possible from arsenic in pressure-treated wood are too low to cause an acute effect. The major health concerns require long-term exposure through daily contact, but under certain circumstances, such chronic exposure can lead to cancer or other organ health effects. Exposure to the arsenic typically occurs through contact with the surface of the wood structure and the top layer of soil or surface material directly beneath such a playscape. Some states have recommended sealing wood structures every two years to reduce the potential for arsenic leaching; however, the only way to eliminate the potential for contamination is to remove the source completely. Such concerns are not limited to playscape structures. CCA-treated lumber may have been used in any structure or hardscape, such as picnic tables, decks, walkways, patios, fencing, landscaping timbers, and boardwalks.

What You Can Do

If you suspect that your community or school has a treated-wood structure that was built before 2003, it would be prudent to have the soils and wood surface tested. If contamination is present, take action. As noted above, this situation is not new, so the processes for assessment, analysis and resolution are well defined. The greater challenge is the identification of these structures and the determination to do the right thing for the health and welfare of our communities and our citizens. At AKT Peerless, we address projects with this exact scope regularly. We would welcome the opportunity to help any municipality, school district or community with identifying and resolving any problem that may arise from CCA-treated wood structures. Our specialty is helping to build sustainable communities, and our commitment to our communities is strong. If you have questions about a potential CCA-treated wood structure, please call AKT Peerless at 800-985-7633.

CCA Contaminated Playgrounds

CCA Contaminated Playgrounds

Municipal Response

Threat to Health

What You Can Do

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