Pressure treated wood delivered around the country will soon carry a small business-card sized label warning consumers that the pesticide applied to the wood contains arsenic. The pressure treated wood industry buckled to pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and agreed to place the labels on all wood products treated with CCA, chromated copper arsenate.

CCA treated wood is often used to build outdoor products such as fences, decks, playgrounds, and picnic tables. However, recent research indicates that the arsenic containing pesticide may harm those who make or use the products.

Although the deadline for compliance with the label regulation is not until September 2002, several large retailers are encouraging producers to begin labeling as soon as possible.

The EPA and wood producers agreed in the mid-1980s to voluntary distribute warning sheets to consumers when they purchased pressure-treated wood. However, the program did little to warn the public and thus was not very successful.

Environmental activists claim the current warning does not go far enough. They are pushing for tougher regulations, including required education for lumber and home improvement store employees, as most people seem unaware that many wood products contain arsenic. Exposure to arsenic can cause cancer, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, and nausea.

In recent years, reports of arsenic poisoning caused by working with pressure-treated wood have increased. Typical cases include construction workers, carpenters, and homeowners working on improvement projects.

The pressure-treated wood industry is facing several product liability lawsuits, at least one of which is a class action. Additionally, the EPA recently announced plans to test wood used at 1,000 playgrounds throughout the country to determine if arsenic levels are dangerously high.

The new label reads as follows:

Caution: Arsenic is in the pesticide applied to this wood. Never burn treated wood. Wear dust mask and goggles when cutting or sanding wood. Wear gloves when working with wood.

Consumer Information: This wood has been preserved by pressure treatment with an EPA registered pesticide containing inorganic arsenic. Some chemical may migrate from treated wood into surrounding soil over time and may also be dislodged from wood surface upon contact with skin. Exposure to inorganic arsenic may present certain hazards.

Take the following precautions when handling, determining where to use, using or disposing of the treated wood, Use Site Precautions. All sawdust and construction debris should be cleaned up and disposed of properly. Do not use treated wood for mulch, cutting boards, counter tops, beehives, animal bedding or structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food. Also do not use where treated wood may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water, except for uses involving incidental contact such as docks and bridges.

Dispose of treated wood by ordinary trash. Do not burn treated wood in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces, residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Treated wood from commercial or industrial use may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with state and federal regulations. Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood. Sawing, sanding and machining of treated wood should be performed outdoors while wearing dust mask and goggles. Wear gloves when working with wood. After working with treated wood, and before eating, drinking, toileting and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas thoroughly. Because preservative or sawdust may accumulate on clothes, launder before reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.