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We do not recommend that consumers replace or remove existing structures made with wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed CCA wood preservatives during the 1980s, it concluded that CCA-treated wood did not pose an unreasonable health risk. A similar assessment, conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1990, concluded that short- and long-term health effects are unlikely to occur for individuals coming into contact with treated wood. Health Canada critically reviewed these assessments and agreed with the overall conclusions at the time.
There is a more recent joint re-evaluation of CCA currently under way between Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency and the US EPA. They are examining whether the exposure to these metals as a result of contact with CCA-treated wood and soil containing leachate from CCA-treated wood presents an unacceptable health risk to the general population and sensitive subgroups such as children.
Measures can be taken to minimize unnecessary exposure to CCA, such as:
- Never burn treated wood.
- Do not use CCA-treated wood where direct food contact is possible.
The Consumer Safety Information Sheet on CCA-Preserved Wood www.ccasafetyinfo.ca provides further steps to reduce human exposure to CCA and its release into the environment.
Some studies suggest that using certain oil-based penetrating coatings can reduce the amount of CCA that leaches from treated wood. We do not recommend the use of urethane coatings or paint, as these may flake and peel off. As well, we advise against the use of deck wash products as these may increase exposure to CCA compounds.
For more coverage on this issue, check out the in-depth article Working with CCA-Treated Wood in the May issue of EnviroZine.
Related Links:
Environment Canada Wood Preservation Web site
CCA Fact sheet (June 2003 - .pdf format, 92KB)
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