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more_legal_areas arsenicCCA lumber is chromated copper arsenate treated wood that contains the carcinogenic compound called arsenic. Arsenic has been a known human poison since ancient times. This chemical compound found in CCA lumber has been linked to several forms of cancer including skin, liver, bladder, kidney, prostate, and lung cancer. CCA lumber is treated with arsenic because it is an effective pesticide that also functions to extend the life of CCA lumber.
The Environmental Protection Agency has long known that CCA lumber may pose a serious threat to human health. They conducted a detailed investigation about the health effects of exposure to CCA lumber and determined that the risk of health repercussions outweighed the benefits of allowing CCA lumber to be distributed in the United States. CCA lumber manufacturers and the EPA agreed that all sales of CCA lumber would cease as of December 31, 2003.
Though CCA lumber is no longer available for sale in the United States, many existing structures have been built with CCA lumber. CCA lumber has been used extensively since the 1940s to build structures such as utility poles, highway sound barriers, and marine construction projects. CCA lumber has also been used in outdoor residential structures such as decks, gazebos, boat docks, walkways, furniture, and playground structures.
CCA lumber poses a health threat when its integrity is compromised in such a way that its dust or particles are inhaled or ingested. CCA lumber can also be harmful with skin or eye contact. Sawing, sanding, machining, burning or otherwise manipulating CCA lumber can cause physical damage to those who are exposed. For this reason it is important to exercise caution when working with or around CCA lumber. People who do work with CCA lumber should use personal protective gear and clothing to limit exposure to harmful materials. Children should always wash their hands after any contact with CCA lumber or its surroundings (including water and soil), and food should never be placed directly on CCA lumber products.
Signs of unhealthy exposure to CCA lumber constituents include: irritation of the nose, mouth, throat, and eyes, chest pain, change in heart beat, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, headaches, skin rash, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue. In more extreme cases, CCA lumber exposure can cause convulsions, seizures, coma, hearing loss, pins and needles sensations in the skin, and more. Long term exposure can lead to the development of cancer or diabetes.
There are many alternatives to CCA lumber available on the market. Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or Copper Azole (CBA) treated wood, composite lumber, synthetic materials, and denser woods are all promising CCA lumber alternatives that do not pose serious threats to human health. If you or a loved one has suffered injury as a result of CCA lumber, you may wish to contact a qualified attorney who can advise you of your rights and options in a legal case to seek reparation of your losses.
Pressure treated wood using arsenic, an effective poison for hundreds of years, was used in deck construction for many years but is no longer sold for residential use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned most uses of arsenic as a pesticide...