Testing Playgrounds for Arsenic

Summer is in full bloom, and for me, as the mother of a three-year-old, that means putting in some serious time in our nearby public playground. Until recently, this urban space seemed very safe, and my only concern was the odd skinned knee. But when I read recently that outdoor wood can contain arsenic, naturally I worried.

For decades, nearly all outdoor wooden structures—play sets, picnic tables, fences, decks—were made with "pressure-treated" wood injected with chromated copper arsenate (CCA)—an insecticide and preservative that is 22-percent pure arsenic, a known carcinogen that can also cause nerve damage. Manufacturers agreed to halt production of CCA-treated wood for home use beginning this year, though existing stock may still be sold. The bad news is that the arsenic can leach from wood for years—into the soil below and onto children's hands. Studies show that small children put their hands in their mouths an average of 6 times every hour.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) sells arsenic test kits. On a warm day last spring, I chose a much-used spot on the play structure, pulled on a pair of plastic gloves, removed a special wipe from its foil packet and took a swipe. In a couple of weeks, the results came back negative. So my son has been happily climbing all summer, without his mother nagging him (too much) to wash his hands.

What You Can Do

Test kits for wood and soil are $20 each from ewg.org/reports/poisonwoodrivals/orderform.php. Test during dry weather: Rain can wash surface arsenic away.

When shopping for outdoor wood, ask retailers for proof that what you are buying is CCA-free. CCA-free play sets can be bought from Cedarworks (800-G0-CEDAR, www.cedarworks.com) and PlayNation (800-445-PLAY, www.playnation.com). CCA-free decking is available from Environmental Home Center (800-281-9785, www.built-e.com) and Trex (800-BUY-TREX, www.trex.com).

If your home play set is leaching arsenic, consider replacing railings or handles with a recycled plastic composite or untreated wood. The rest can be sealed. AFM Safecoat recommends low-VOC Durostain with low-VOC Safecoat Watershield (www.afmsafecoat.com).

If you discover arsenic at your public playground, ask your city councilperson to have equipment safely removed and replaced or sealed.