Health Impacts

 

 

Introduction

CCA can cause cancer
Pathways of Human Exposure to CCA-Treated Timber
International Research
Uncertainties
References


CCA can cause cancer

Copper, chromium and arsenic are all heavy metals which means that they are metallic chemical elements that have a high density and are toxic to humans at very low concentrations. Arsenic is of most concern in this context because there is evidence from several published scientific studies (see for example Children's Health section) that the arsenic leaches out of CCA-treated wood over time.

According to the World Health Organisation (cited in Sharp and Walker, 2001: 2) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Pesticide Programs, 2002b) arsenic is “a known carcinogen and is acutely toxic”. It can cause various cancers including lung, bladder and skin cancer, as well as non-cancer damage, including reproductive and neurological problems (CPSC, 2003b: 14). People can be exposed through touching the timber as surface arsenic sticks to human skin (Gray and Houlihan, 2002: 9). It can be absorbed by the skin (less likely), breathed in with wood dust particles, or transferred to the mouth, for example by subsequent handling of food (CPSC, 2003b: 10).

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Pathways of Human Exposure to CCA-Treated Timber
Activity
Contaminated Material
Exposure Route
Sawing, cutting, drilling etc
Wood dust
Direct contact Inhalation*
Ingestion
Dermal
Touching
Surface residues
Direct contact Ingestion*
Dermal
Leaching
Soil/Waterways
Direct contact Ingestion*
Dermal
Inhalation
Plant uptake Ingestion
Disposal
Ash, soil, air
Direct contact Inhalation*
Dermal
Ingestion

*Principle Exposure Route
Adapted from (Standards Australia, 2003: 7)

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International Research

There is a wide range of research from international sources documenting the effects of cumulative exposure to arsenic:

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Uncertainties

Nevertheless there is not enough epidemiological evidence to ensure agreement about the health impacts of CCA exposure. This is explained by Belluck et al (2003) as due to:

The authors are aware that correlating health impacts with soil-related arsenic exposures in highly mobile populations is very difficult, but reiterate that there is not sufficient data to rule out elevated surface soils levels of arsenic as a cause of human morbidity or mortality (Belluck et al, 2003).

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that during the decades that timber has been treated with CCA, there has been no real effort collate the long term health records of people working in the industry. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is only now belatedly recommending that health data be kept by the industry.

A further uncertainty is whether the CCA components (copper, chromium and arsenate) in combination differ from effects caused by an exposure to each metal separately. For example, the presence of chromium and copper may alter the health impacts of the arsenic, such as absorption, retention and excretion (US EPA, 2003). Also some people are more sensitive to chemicals than others (Buckland, 2005).

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References:

Beane Freeman, L., Dennis, L., Lynch, C., Thorne, P. and Just, C. (2004), ‘Toenail Arsenic Content and Cutaneous Melanoma in Iowa’, American Journal of Epidemiology, 160(7):679-687.

Belluck, D., Benjamin, S., Baveye, P., Sampson, J., and Johnson, B. (2003), ‘Widespread Arsenic Contamination of Soils in Residential Areas and Public Spaces: An Emerging Regulatory or Medical Crisis?’, International Journal of Toxicology, 22, pp. 109-128.

Buckland, D. (2005), ‘Global Recognition Campaign for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity’, http://www.mcs-global.org/ (accessed 4/3/05).

CPSC (2003a), Fact Sheet: Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) -Treated Wood Used in Playground Equipment, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, February 7, http://www.cpsc.gov, (accessed 16/8/04)

CPSC (2003b), Briefing Package: Petition to Ban Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)-Treated Wood in Playground Equipment (Petititon Hp 01-3). Washington, DC: US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). February.

Gray, S. and Houlihan, J. (2002), All Hands on Deck, Washington, D.C.: Environmental Working Group (EWG). August. http://www.ewg.org/reports/allhandsondeck

Kaltreider, R., Davis, A., Lariviere, J-P, and Hamilton, J. (2001), ‘Arsenic Alters the Function of the Glucocorticoid Receptor as a Transcription Factor’, Environmental Health Perspectives, 109: 245-251.

Lee, D-H, Son, D-W, Lee, M, and Kang, C (2003), ‘Biological Safety Evaluation Of Animal Contact Of Preservative-Treated Wood’, International Research Group, 34th Annual Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, 18-23 May.

Office of Pesticide Programs (2002b). ‘Questions & Answers: What You Need to Know About Wood Pressure Treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA).’ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 12 February. http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/cca_qa.htm.

Sharp, R. and Walker, B. (2001), Poisoned Playgrounds: Arsenic in 'Pressure-Treated' Wood, Environmental Working Group and Healthy Building Network, Washington D.C. http://www.ewg.org/reports/poisonedplaygrounds

Standards Australia (2003), ‘DR03476-03481: Draft for Public Comment’.

US EPA (2003), ‘Effects Of Metal-Metal Interactions On Toxicokinetics Of Arsenic From CCA-contaminated Materials And Environmental Media (Soil, Dislodgeable Material)’, A Probabilistic Risk Assessment For Children Who Contact CCA-Treated Playsets And Decks, Draft Preliminary Report, November 10,Pp 297—298.

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Introduction | Children's Health | Working with Treated Timber | Health-Related Litigation | Industry Responses