Why is CPSC staff concerned about CCA-treated wood in playground equipment?
• CPSC staff is concerned about CCA-treated wood in playground equipment because exposures to arsenic in the wood might increase a person’s probability (or risk) of developing lung or bladder cancer over their lifetime. Children can be exposed to the arsenic in CCA-treated wood by playing on playgrounds made from this wood. • Staff believes that hand-to-mouth behavior is the primary source of exposure to arsenic from CCA-treated wood playsets. Young children who routinely put their hands in their mouths (generally children under 6 years of age) can then ingest the arsenic directly from their hands or indirectly when they touch food or toys, which are then placed in their mouths. What studies did CPSC staff conduct to assess the potential health risk to children from playing on CCA-treated wood playsets? • Staff conducted a series of scientific studies to measure how much arsenic comes off CCA-treated wood playgrounds onto the hand to estimate the potential exposure in children. Staff u