Most Residential Uses of CCA Wood to Be Replaced 1 Most Residential Uses of CCA Wood to Be Replaced on February 12, 2002, the U.S
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March 2002 Volume 14, No. 2 Most Residential Uses of CCA Wood to Be Replaced 1 Most Residential Uses of CCA Wood to be Replaced On February 12, 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a voluntary decision by industry to move consumer use of treated-lumber products away 2 What’s the Weather Like? from a variety of pressure-treated wood that contains arsenic by December 31, 2003, in favor of new, alternative wood preservatives. This change affects essentially all residential uses of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate, also known as CCA. This is the wood commonly used in play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, 3 Pesticide Registration: “Section What?” residential fencing, patios, and walkways/boardwalks. By January 2004, USEPA will not allow CCA products for any of these residential uses. This decision will assist the volun- tary transition in both manufacturing and retail areas to new, alternative wood preserva- Dealer Training Manual 4 tives that do not contain arsenic. Although USEPA staff have not concluded that these Available products pose unreasonable risk to the public, they do believe that any reduction in exposure to arsenic is desirable. This action comes years ahead of completing USEPA’s 4 D&R Training Manual regulatory and scientific assessment of CCA and will substantially reduce potential expo- Available sure to CCA. 5 Consumer Pesticide Q&A Regarding CCA Transition Process Hotline Changes Name What uses of CCA-treated wood are affected by this transition? After December 31, 2003, wood treaters will not be able to use CCA for wood intended for decks, picnic tables, New Central Hotline for 5 landscaping timbers, gazebos, residential fencing, patios, walkways/boardwalks, and play U.S. Poison Control structures. Wood treated before this date, however, can still be used in residential settings. Centers Already-built structures containing CCA-treated wood are not affected by this action. 5 Pesticide Clean Sweep What uses of CCA-treated wood will be allowed? Effective December 31, 2003, CCA Update may be used for preservative treatment of the following categories of forest products and in accordance with the respective cited standard (noted parenthetically) of the 2001 edition of the American Wood Preservers’ Association Standards: lumber and timber for Empty Pesticide Container 5 saltwater use only (C2); piles (C3); poles (C4); plywood (C9); wood for highway con- Recycling Update struction (C14); poles, piles, and posts used as structural members on farms and plywood used on farms (C16); wood for marine construction (C18); round poles and posts used in 6 Pesticide Update building construction (C23); sawn timber used to support residential and commercial structures (C24); sawn crossarms (C25); structural glued, laminated members and laminations before gluing (C28); structural composite lumber (C33); and shakes and shingles (C34). University of Illinois • U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Extension Councils Cooperating University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. Illinois Pesticide Review Volume 14, No. 2, March 2002 2 Forest products treated with this reduce the amount of CCA that Alternatively, if you know who built the product may be sold or distributed only leaches from treated wood. deck, you may want to call and ask. for uses within the AWPA Commodity • When conducting new construction What alternatives to CCA-treated Standards under which the treatment or repairs, consider the range of wood will be available? A number of occurred. alternatives to CCA-treated wood. preservatives have been registered by Why are the manufacturers phasing out These alternatives include both non- USEPA, and wood treated with these CCA? Industry has indicated that it is arsenical chemical wood preserva- preservatives is expected to be available in making a business decision based on tives and other wood and nonwood the marketplace. In addition, untreated market demand to move to other types of materials. Consult your local home- wood (for example, cedar and redwood) wood preservatives that do not contain improvement store for more infor- and nonwood alternatives—such as arsenic. Although the action is voluntary, mation. plastics, metal, and composite materi- it effectively changes the labels for CCA. Should I replace my CCA-treated deck als—are available. Your local hardware This means that it will be unlawful to use or play set? EPA does not recommend store or lumberyard can provide more CCA to treat wood intended for residen- that consumers replace or remove existing information about available alternatives. tial uses after December 31, 2003. Stocks structures made with CCA-treated wood How will the voluntary transition of CCA-treated wood remaining in stores or the soil surrounding those structures. away from CCA affect USEPA’s risk after this date, however, can be sold. Concerned citizens may want to take assessment for residential use of CCA- Does CCA-treated wood present any extra precautions, however, by applying a treated wood? Throughout this process, health risks? USEPA has not concluded coating to exposed surfaces regularly. USEPA has continued working on our that CCA-treated wood poses any unrea- What types of coatings are most effec- risk assessment. The transition away from sonable risk to the public or the environ- tive? Although available data are very CCA will be one of several important ment. Nevertheless, arsenic is a known limited, some studies suggest that apply- factors considered in determining the human carcinogen; and, thus, USEPA ing certain penetrating coatings (for next steps in the comprehensive assess- believes that any reduction in the levels of example, oil-based, semitransparent ment of CCA. Through the risk- potential exposure to arsenic is desirable. stains) on a regular basis (for example, assessment process to date, USEPA has USEPA believes that the voluntary transi- once a year or every other year, depend- received extensive recommendations from tion to nonarsenical wood preservatives ing upon wear and weathering) may the Scientific Advisory Panel, a group of for residential sites is a responsible action reduce migration of wood-preservative scientific experts, on the best approach to by the registrants. chemicals from CCA-treated wood. In evaluating potential risks to children from What steps can be taken to reduce a selecting a finish, consumers should be exposure to decks and play structures family’s potential exposure to CCA? aware that, in some cases, “film-forming” (visit www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/2001/ Minimize unnecessary exposure to CCA: or nonpenetrating stains (latex semi- index.htm to see the report). USEPA has also received many comments from the • Never burn treated wood in open transparent, latex opaque, and oil-based opaque stains) on outdoor surfaces such public, stakeholders, industry, and public fires, stoves, fireplaces, or residential interest groups. As these comments and boilers. as decks and fences are not recom- mended, as subsequent peeling and recommendations are considered, USEPA • Always wash hands thoroughly after flaking may ultimately have an impact will evaluate how the manufacturer’s contact with any wood, especially on durability, as well as exposure to pre- recent action affects the timing and scope before eating and drinking. servatives in the wood. Talk with your of the risk assessment. (Phil Nixon, adapted from USEPA releases) • Never let food come into direct local hardware store about available contact with any treated wood. coatings. • Always follow the precautions How can I tell if my deck has been What’s the outlined in USEPA’s “Consumer constructed with CCA-treated wood? Safety Information Sheet” before Freshly treated wood, if not coated, has a Weather Like? working with CCA-treated wood. greenish tint, which fades over time. As a practical matter, CCA has been the prin- Additional measures that may be taken There’s a joke that says people used to cipal chemical used to treat wood for include the following: find out what the weather was like by decks and other outdoor uses around the looking out the window, but now they • Apply a coating product to pressure- home. Generally, if your deck was not need cable TV or a computer. OK, so it’s treated wood on a regular basis. made with redwood or cedar, then most a funny commentary on our technology- Some studies suggest that this can likely the deck is CCA-treated wood. Illinois Pesticide Review Volume 14, No. 2 March 2002 3 focused world, but is it ridiculous? In the invaluable for this. Compasses are useful, a state to provide registration for addi- case of pesticide application, it’s probably too, especially for defending against a tional uses of federally registered pesti- not. drift complaint. A wind heading of “20 cides for distribution and use within that Granted, you don’t need an Internet to 30 degrees” is more informative and state to meet “special local needs.” Such connection to decide to spray, but know- useful as a defense than ambiguous terms registrations are referred to as state labels, ing the weather, particularly the wind like “northeast” or “north–northeast.” It special local needs, or 24(c) registrations conditions, during the application is criti- may be good to record temperature or and are considered as federal registrations cal for drift control. Accurately recording relative humidity also. Some pesticides that authorize distribution and use only that information is critical, too. The cur- have maximum temperatures for use. If within the granting state. Such registra- rent atmosphere of mistrust surrounding the label says don’t spray if the tempera- tions are subject to all provisions of pesticide applications makes it increas- ture is over 85 degrees, recording the FIFRA that apply to currently registered ingly likely that if drift occurs somebody temperature at the time of application products, including cancellations, will have to account for it. If that some- shows you were paying attention to what renewals, and suspensions.