Termites are among the organisms that attack untreated wood. In 1950, United States suppliers of lumber began to treat wood with a mixture of copper, chromium, and arsenic (CCA). The mixture slows the damage to wood by poisoning the attacking organisms. Outdoor structures such as decks and porches were made from CCA-treated wood. By 2002, more than 95 percent of treated lumber sold for use outdoors contained CCA.
Arsenic is a poison that has been linked with certain types of cancer. Arsenic can be absorbed through the skin or ingested in water or food. Consumers were especially concerned about children touching CCA-treated wood and then placing their unwashed fingers in their mouths. Some consumers asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the use of CCA. In 2002, the chemical and home-improvement industries agreed to stop producing CCA-treated wood for home use.
Old CCA-Treated Wood Does Not Need to Be Removed
The EPA did not recommend tearing down existing structures made from CCA-treated wood. A panel of Florida doctors reported that they found no studies linking cancer in children and exposure to CCA-treated wood. They concluded that the amount of arsenic that children could absorb from treated wood is small compared to the amount of arsenic that occurs naturally in soil.
There are risks associated with disposing of treated wood. Burning arsenic-treated wood produces ash with high levels of arsenic. The ash would poison a person who inhaled, ingested, or touched it. The only acceptable method of disposal is in landfills, which are rapidly filling. Also, arsenic from landfills can end up in groundwater.
Old CCA-Treated Wood Needs to Be Removed
A report produced by one state's Department of Environmental Protection concluded that there is a serious risk for children exposed to arsenic from treated wood. The level of arsenic remains high for 20 years in CCA-treated wood. The useful life of most treated wood products is about 20 years.
An area of CCA-treated wood the size of a four-year-old's hand contains about 120 times the amount of arsenic allowed in a 6-ounce glass of water. (The EPA limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion.) Rainwater penetrates wood and dissolves arsenic. The arsenic ends up on the surface of the wood or in the soil near the wood.
Defining the Issue In your own words, describe the issue that needs to be resolved about existing structures made from CCA-treated wood.
Analyzing the Viewpoints List three arguments of those who don't think that existing structures made from CCA-treated wood need to be removed. List three arguments of those who want to remove existing structures made from CCA-treated wood.
Forming Your Opinion Should existing structures built from CCA-treated wood be removed? Which argument did yo find most convincing?