• cancer
• birth defects
• kidney and liver damage
• endocrine system disruption
• and death
  

Also in this Issue:

EPA Release from February 12, 2002 - Whitman announces transition from consumer use of treated wood containing arsenic

VIDEO LINK- CNN's Mark Potter looks at CCA -treated wood and its potential health dangers (May 23) (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Your Legal Rights - 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.

Pressure Treated Wood News

Gov. scientists report sealant reduces playground cancer risk

May 13, 2005

A government scientist reported that sealants could help reduce risk of cancer from arsenic-treated wood found mainly in playground equipment and backyard decks.

The Environmental Protection Agency said that the use of an oil- or water-based sealant or stain at least once a year should limit the amount of arsenic in pesticide-treated lumber than can escape and come into contact with people's skin.

Results from the first year of a two-year study by the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have shown successful results in containing the pesticide, chromated copper arsenate, or CCA. Opposed to paints and other similar products that can chip or flake, requiring a potentially higher exposure to arsenic if it is scraped or sanded for removal, the sealants or stains can prevent these risks.

The sole Democrat on the three-member commission, Thomas Moore criticized his agency for failing to issue a more urgent statement that would cause parents and municipalities to act. CCA-pressure treated wood was used to protect lumber from decay and insect damage, but preliminary EPA studies have shown there is an increased risk of cancer for children between the ages of one to six who are exposed to it. According to a statement issued by Moore, CCA pressure-treated wood should be cause for concern especially among parents of young children because his agency “believes hand-to-mouth behavior is the primary source of exposure.”

The EPA has removed pressure treated wood from a list of approved chemicals, and the lumber industry no longer makes new products with the pesticide. Although the Wood Preservative Science Council said coatings for CCA-pressure treated wood products are unnecessary, the Environmental Working Group, who sought a ban on the treated wood, believes the government is downplaying the risks.

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. For more pressure treated wood alternative options, please consult a hardware store or lumberyard.