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Wood playground
equipment treated with arsenic may pose a serious health risk
to children. Nearly all wood playground equipment currently
in use has been treated with chromated copper arsenate, a
pesticide. While using the equipment, children can get arsenic
residue on their hands and transfer it into their mouths.
Children who play
on treated equipment could have a higher lifetime risk of
developing lung or bladder cancer, according to experts.
Using the estimate
that an average child visits playgrounds three times per week,
and considering factors such as how much arsenic is released
from the wood, how much is picked up on hands and how much
is transferred to the mouth, researchers found that for every
1 million children exposed to the treated wood frequently,
two to 100 of them may develop lung or bladder cancer as a
result.
The range is large
because estimates vary on how likely arsenic is to cause cancer,
according to the study.
Scientists recommend
that children wash their hands with soap and water immediately
after playing on treated equipment and also say that children
should not eat while on the equipment.
The safety agency
will hold a public meeting next month to consider a proposed
ban on the arsenic-based preservative in playground equipment.
Advocacy groups petitioned for a ban in 2001.
Arsenic is known
to cause cancer, but the preservative industry has said the
wood with the arsenic-based preservative is safe when used
properly.
In 2001, advocacy
groups petitioned for a ban on the arsenic-based preservative
in playground equipment and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) began requiring consumer warning labels on treated lumber.
Preservative manufacturers
have agreed to stop using the chemical in new wood playground
equipment and other consumer products by December 2003.
Research is being
conducted to determine ways to coat treated wood with a sealant
to prevent arsenic from coming through.
Sun-Sentinel
February 10, 2003
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