Signs Of Arsenic Poisoning
 Mild arsenic poisoning:
Inhaling arsenic may cause
symptoms that include, but
are not limited to, nausea,
loss of appetite, diarrhea.
Moderate arsenic
poisoning: Inhaling
arsenic may cause symptoms
that include, but are not
limited to, tingling sensation
in the palms, cramped muscles,metallic taste, vomiting,stomach and throat
irritation, chronic headaches,
fainting, dizziness, delirium,
or coma.
Long-term arsenic
poisoning: Inhaling arsenic
on a long-term basis may
result in darkening of the
skin, skin rash, marks on the
fingernails, wart appearing
marks, and skin
pigmentation changes.
Pressure treated wood dangers
Pressure treated wood contains
the chemical CCA.
CCA has been linked to:
- cancer
- birth defects
- kidney and liver damage
- endocrine system disruption
- and death
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Education:
What Is CCA:
CCA (chromated copper arsenate) was patented in 1938 and is injected into wood using high pressure in order to saturate the wood products. The intentions of injecting CCA into the wood is so that the wood will be protected from fungi, mold, termites, dry rot, and other such dangers. In 1999, the U.S. consumed 71,700 metric tons of CCA. Thirty four percent of CCA is made up of arsenic, a known human carcinogen that is especially dangerous to children. Arsenic stays on the pressure treated wood surfaces for years and will sometimes come off onto the hands of people that come in contact with it. Despite this, the CCA using industry has also claimed the pressure treated wood was safe.
Why is pressure treated wood dangerous?
Pressure treated wood contains CCA, or chromated copper arsenate, made up of 34% arsenic. Arsenic is a human poison and has been recognized as such since ancient times. Due to the high level of toxicity arsenic contains, there is no warning that exposure may be occurring. The arsenic is colorless and odorless and can be released from the pressure treated wood when the wood is burned, sanded, sawed, or through direct contact. When arsenic is inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin it can result in death, especially toxic with children.
Allowable Arsenic Levels in the Environment
The EPA has set limits on the level of allowable arsenic that can be
allowed in the water, soil, and air to protect people from suffering the
serious side effects that can occur if exposed to the human carcinogen.
Water: The EPA has eliminated or restricted use of arsenic in
pesticides. Water has a limit of 0.05 ppm of arsenic in drinking water
but may be reduced even further.
Soil: Soil cannot contain more than 10 ppm of arsenic, set by the EPA.
If soil is found to contain an amount higher than this the EPA guidelines
the EPA can order an owner-funded cleanup of a commercial site.
Air: OSHA allows no more than 10 micrograms per cubic meter
averaged over an 8-hour day to be allowed in the workplace.
Contact us
If you are suffering from side effects due to pressure treated wood exposure Contact James F. Humphreys & Associates, L.C. to learn more about your legal rights and options.
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