ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.

DONATE TO EWG!

Help us protect your health and environment!  Please donate $5 to EWG today.

GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS

Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.

ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL

Delivered by FeedBurner

 Enviroblog in your Reader

Get EWG widgets & blog badges.

Join EWG's live chat with Chef Ann Cooper

School lunch: More fruits & veggies, please!

Texas Schools are Drilling for Dollars

Why do blowouts take so long to fix?

SEARCH ENVIROBLOG

FIND PAST POSTS

select month November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

FEATURED

Support the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act. It's Urgent.

Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?

Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure

So what products CAN we use?

Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked

EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series

EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure

EWG on TV

Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill

Toxic Tub?

Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water

Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen

BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics

Ask EWG

What can I do about fluoride in my water?

What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

Ask EWG Archives

PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS

Breast Cancer Fund

The Daily Green

Eco Child's Play

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Moms Carnival

Grist

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Huffington Post Green

NRDC's Switchboard

Organic.org

Safer States

TreeHugger

TALK TO US

Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.

« Outside the Box: Payments or principles? | Main | Are D.C. residents being scammed on water quality? »

Ask EWG: Arsenic on my new house's deck?

Question: My husband and I are thinking of buying this great old house with a big back deck, but I remember reading something about how wood used on decks can be dangerous. We've got a two year old. Should I be worried?

Answer: There are reasons to be concerned, but if you’re set on the house, there are a couple of steps you can take to minimize exposures. First, however, a quick recap of the problem. Wood destined to remain outside faces harsh elements and can succumb to insect damage and rot. Pressure treated wood is injected with chemicals in order to protect it from the elements and the insects, and one of those chemicals is chromated copper arsenate (CCA), an insecticide that is 22 percent arsenic. Arsenic is a carcinogen, and EWG research indicates that little ones crawling across a deck or playing on an old wooden swing set may ingest potentially hazardous levels of CCA leached out of the wood.

In part because of EWG’s advocacy and research, EPA banned arsenic-treated wood for decks and playsets in 2004. But because the pesticide was the standard in outdoor lumber for 30 years, 70 percent of all homes in the U.S. still have old, arsenic-treated wood porches and decks. You can learn if your wood contains arsenic by using a simple test kit available on our website.

If your wood contains arsenic, the best solution would be to rebuild your deck with materials naturally resistant to rot and insects, or wood treated with arsenic-free preservatives. If that’s not in your budget right now there are other ways to minimize your family’s risk of exposure:

1. Seal the wood at least every six months with standard penetrating deck treatments.
   
2. Replace sections of potential high exposure like handrails, steps, or deck boards with non-arsenic alternatives.
   
3. Wash your hands and your children’s hands after every exposure to arsenic-treated wood, especially before eating.
   
4. Keep children and pets away from the soil beneath and immediately surrounding arsenic-treated wood structures.
   
5. Cover arsenic-treated picnic tables with a tablecloth before using.
   
6. Do not pressure wash to clean the surface of arsenic-treated wood. Instead use a soap and water solution, with disposable cleaning supplies. Pressurized water will blast off the upper surface of the wood and spray arsenic-contaminated particles over your yard.
   
7. Do not allow children to play on rough wood surfaces. Arsenic-treated wood splinters can be dangerous.
   
8. Never sand arsenic-treated lumber. If wood is smooth enough that splinters are not a risk, avoid sanding a deck to prepare the surface for sealing—use a simple soap and water wash instead. Wood dust formed by sanding contains arsenic that is easily ingested by a child, or can wash off the surface to contaminate the soil below.
   
9. Do not store toys or tools under the deck. Arsenic leaches from the wood when it rains and may coat things left there.
   
10. Do not use commercial “deck washing” solutions. These solutions can convert chemicals on the wood to a more toxic form.
    

Got a question for our researchers? Send it in! We'll select one (or a few) for next month's edition of Ask EWG.

Want Ask EWG sent to your inbox? Sign up for our monthly bulletin.

« Outside the Box: Payments or principles? |