:225 CCA Treated Wood

Welcome to today’s 1:5:10:365 Tip for becoming a better steward for our home and planet environment.

1:5:10:225 EcoTip: CCA stands for chromated copper arsenate. This is a very toxic arsenic containing compound that was used as a wood preservative beginning in the 1940s. By the 1970s it was the most common pressure treated wood preservative being used. This product was voluntarily removed from the market in December 2003.

That means there are a lot of CCA treated decks, play yards and other pressure treated wood uses that continue to leach into the environment and can cause exposure – especially to children that touch these materials then put their hands in their mouths.

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 Additional Information:

EPA provides additional information about CCA treated lumber and how to protect your family from it at http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/

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