Wood playground equipment treated with arsenic may pose a serious health risk to children. Nearly all wood playground equipment currently in use has been treated with chromated copper arsenate, a pesticide. While using the equipment, children can get arsenic residue on their hands and transfer it into their mouths.

Children who play on treated equipment could have a higher lifetime risk of developing lung or bladder cancer, according to experts.

Using the estimate that an average child visits playgrounds three times per week, and considering factors such as how much arsenic is released from the wood, how much is picked up on hands and how much is transferred to the mouth, researchers found that for every 1 million children exposed to the treated wood frequently, two to 100 of them may develop lung or bladder cancer as a result.

The range is large because estimates vary on how likely arsenic is to cause cancer, according to the study.

Scientists recommend that children wash their hands with soap and water immediately after playing on treated equipment and also say that children should not eat while on the equipment.

The safety agency will hold a public meeting next month to consider a proposed ban on the arsenic-based preservative in playground equipment. Advocacy groups petitioned for a ban in 2001.

Arsenic is known to cause cancer, but the preservative industry has said the wood with the arsenic-based preservative is safe when used properly.

In 2001, advocacy groups petitioned for a ban on the arsenic-based preservative in playground equipment and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began requiring consumer warning labels on treated lumber.

Preservative manufacturers have agreed to stop using the chemical in new wood playground equipment and other consumer products by December 2003.

Research is being conducted to determine ways to coat treated wood with a sealant to prevent arsenic from coming through.

Sun-Sentinel February 10, 2003