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Whitman Announces Transition from Consumer Use of Treated Wood
Containing Arsenic
February
12, 2002
EPA Administrator
Christie Whitman today announced a voluntary decision by industry to
move consumer use of treated lumber products away from a variety of
pressure-treated wood that contains arsenic by Dec. 31, 2003, in
favor of new alternative wood preservatives. This transition affects
virtually all residential uses of wood treated with chromated copper
arsenate, also known as CCA, including wood used in play-structures,
decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing,
patios and walkways/boardwalks. By Jan. 2004, EPA will not allow CCA
products for any of these residential uses.
"This action will
result in a reduction of virtually all residential uses of CCA-treated
wood within less than two years," said EPA Administrator
Christie Whitman. "Today's announcement greatly accelerates the
transition to new alternatives, responding to market place demands
for wood products that do not contain CCA. This transition will
substantially reduce the time it could have taken to go through the
traditional regulatory process."
"This is a
responsible action by the industry," Whitman continued.
"Today's action will ensure that future exposures to arsenic
are minimized in residential settings. The companies deserve credit
for coming forward in a voluntary way to undergo a conversion and
retooling of their plants as quickly as possible. The transition to
new alternatives will provide consumers with greater choice for
their building needs."
The transition period
will provide consumers with increasingly more non-CCA treated wood
alternatives as the industry undergoes conversion and retooling of
their industrial equipment and practices, while also allowing
adequate time to convert treatment plants with minimal economic
disruption for the industry's employees. Beginning immediately, and
over the next 22 months, wood treatment plants will convert to new
alternative wood preservatives that do not contain arsenic. In the
current year, manufacturers expect a decline in production of CCA
products for affected residential uses up to 25 percent, with a
corresponding shift to alternatives. During 2003, the companies
expect the transition away from CCA to continue and increase, with a
decline in production of CCA products for affected residential uses
up to 70 percent, with a corresponding shift to alternatives. New
labeling will be required on all CCA products, specifying that no
use of CCA will be allowed by the wood-treating industry for the
affected residential uses after Dec. 31, 2003.
EPA has not concluded
that CCA-treated wood poses unreasonable risks to the public for
existing CCA-treated wood being used around or near their homes or
from wood that remains available in stores. EPA does not believe
there is any reason to remove or replace CCA-treated structures,
including decks or playground equipment. EPA is not recommending
that existing structures or surrounding soils be removed or
replaced.
While available data are
very limited, some studies suggest that applying certain penetrating
coatings (e.g., oil-based semi-transparent stains) on a regular
basis (one re-application per year or every other year depending
upon wear and weathering) may reduce the migration of wood
preservative chemicals from CCA-treated wood.
Arsenic is a known human
carcinogen and, thus, the Agency believes that any reduction in the
levels of potential exposure to arsenic is desirable. As always,
when children play outside, whether around CCA-treated play
structures or not, they should wash their hands prior to eating.
Also, food should not be placed directly on any outside surface,
including treated wood. CCA-treated wood should never be burned, as
toxic chemicals may be released as part of the smoke and ashes.
Consumers who work with CCA-treated wood are encouraged to use
common sense in order to reduce any potential exposure to chemicals
in the wood. Specific actions include sawing, sanding and machining
CCA-treated wood outdoors, and wearing a dust mask, goggles and
gloves when performing this type of activity. Clean up all sawdust,
scraps and other construction debris thoroughly and dispose of it in
the trash (i.e., municipal solid waste). Do not compost or mulch
sawdust or remnants from CCA-treated wood. Those working with the
wood should wash all exposed areas of their bodies thoroughly with
soap and water before eating, drinking or using tobacco products.
Work clothes should be washed separately from other household
clothing before wearing them again.
Chromated copper
arsenate, or CCA, is a chemical compound mixture containing
inorganic arsenic, copper and chromium that has been used for wood
preservative uses since the 1940s. CCA is injected into wood by a
process that uses high pressure to saturate wood products with the
chemicals. CCA is intended to protect wood from dry rot, fungi,
molds, termites, and other pests that can threaten the integrity of
wood products.
During the past several
months, CCA-treated wood has been the subject of an EPA evaluation
under provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act, which direct EPA to periodically reevaluate older
pesticides to ensure that they meet current safety standards. The
Agency is continuing to proceed with a risk assessment. EPA is also
continuing to evaluate public comments and input from an external
scientific review panel on methodologies to perform a risk
assessment for residential settings and potential exposure to
children from CCA.
More information on this
announcement is available at www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/1file.htm.
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