Pressure-Treated Lumber, the Next Lead-Based Paint?

Reports and pending federal pact highlight danger of powerful arsenic-laden pesticide used to treat lumber; Regulators and environmental advocacy groups recommend annual sealing

There is new reason why property owners preparing to clean and seal outdoor wood structures as spring approaches should consider the importance of utilizing trained and certified contractors. Pressure-treated lumber, widely used for decks, play sets, picnic tables, fences and outdoor furniture, is under mounting scrutiny because chemicals used to protect the wood from insect damage contain arsenic, a carcinogen.Media reports indicate the Environmental Protection Agency and the wood-preservative industry are nearing an agreement to end manufacturing of lumber permeated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Evidence suggests arsenic from CCA can leach from pressure-treated wood for years. The pesticide, now found in 90% of pressure-treated wood, will be phased out of production over two to three years.According to the National Academy of Sciences, exposure to arsenic causes lung, bladder, and skin cancer in humans, and is suspected as a cause of kidney, prostate and nasal passage cancer. Under the terms of the tentative agreement, the EPA will not advise homeowners to remove existing decks and other structures made with wood, reports say. However, regularly coating the lumber with sealant will be suggested as a way to reduce any arsenic risks.Sun Brite is the only nationally certified wood restoration contractor in metropolitan Atlanta. The company is certified by Power Washers of North America (PWNA), a national trade association dedicated to environmentally sound methods of cleaning and sealing wood. It is the only organization to train contractors in environmental issues relating to the safe handling of wood cleaning and sealing chemicals. Sun Brite is one of just 103 contractors nationwide to have earned this certification.The Environmental Working Group, a proponent of the ban, has called for the CCA phase-out pact to include specific government advice on how to reduce the arsenic threat of treated wood with paint or sealant. Established in 1992, Sun Brite has specialized in cleaning and sealing wood exposed to weather for a decade. All of their Deck Techs have been specifically trained in handling CCA lumber and minimizing the leaching of arsenic poison into the ground from this common source.For more information contact Peter Marentay, Sun Brite CEO, at (770) 277-6363