True Grit: Safer Sand and Play Sets

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A newer alternative, ammoniacal copper quaternary, is considered less toxic to children than arsenic compounds, but its effect on the environment is still unknown. The most responsible choice remains naturally rot-resistant woods like cedar or redwood. Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, or choose play sets made from recycled plastics.

As a final precaution, avoid older sets with cracked, chipped or peeling paint, which may be lead-based. Lead, a neurotoxin, can cause learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.

If arsenic and dirty sand threaten your fun, consider leaving the confines of the playground altogether and find a small corner of nature to explore: inspect the veins of a leaf, lead a neighborhood bird safari or dig in a muddy puddle. You know you want to.

What You Can Do

* Test your local playground's sand for asbestos; find a lab through the EPA's asbestos info line: 202-554-1404.

* In home sandboxes, avoid "all-purpose" sand, which has not been washed to screen out breathable particles. The Safe Sand Company sells asbestos- and silica-free sand (www.safesand.com, 415-971-1776). Replace sand regularly to avoid contamination.

* In indoor sand tables, use beans or rice instead of sand—not great for molding but nice for pouring, measuring or bulldozing.

* If a wooden play structure has a greenish tinge, it has almost certainly been treated with copper, if not CCA. Test wood and soil for arsenic with a kit from the Environmental Working Group ($20; www.ewg.org); treated wood should be sealed every six months with water-based sealants, like those from AFM, or latex paint. And always wash children's hands after they have been playing on any wooden structure—particularly before eating.

* For recycled-plastic or FSC-certified play sets, see our Backyard Playground Equipment product report.

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