Arsenic is highly toxic and known to cause cancer. Suddenly, parents, park officials and government regulators had to confront a potential new risk to thousands of children. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said last week it would speed efforts to determine the risk to kids on playgrounds. We decided we really need to focus on it. But all the attention on playgrounds has some woodworkers scratching their heads.
Toxicologists disagree whether the arsenic at playgrounds poses a serious risk.
In March, the Department of Health toxicologist said a child would have to eat a spoonful of contaminated soil every day for 30 years to increase the risk of getting cancer. Meanwhile, some evidence suggests a bigger threat from CCA might be in the workshop where workers and consumers could inhale or ingest arsenic-laced sawdust. Thousands of deck, fence and dock builders and construction workers use CCA-treated wood day in and day out. Toxicologists say it makes sense that those who are most exposed face the most risk. The Sun found more than 40 cases in which people blamed illness or injury on CCA-treated wood, including a dozen backed by medical testimony or toxicology reports.