Special Reports & Editorials on CCA Pressure Treated Wood Issues

Special Reports

Pressure treated wood - is it safe, or is it toxic? This question has plagued consumers, government agencies, attorneys, judges, juries, lumber retailers, parks and recreation officials, scientists and even the treated wood industry itself, since the late 1970s. Could this "miracle product" designed to never rot and never be eaten by insect pests possibly harm consumers and cause a wide array of health problems? Or, is the risk of harm exaggerated and the exposure benign?

Now we have additional information that will show that some in the treated wood industry knew about the hazards of CCA treated wood products, and concealed the information from our government agencies and from the public.

Learn more about this when you read:
Treated Wood's "Smoking Gun" - 1977 Memos from an Industry Insider Reveal CCA Wood Toxicity

One and 1/2 years, 1 million taxpayer dollars and 387 pages later, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has finally released its colossal two-volume briefing report on the safety of CCA treated wood in playground equipment, weighing in at just over 4 pounds.

Is it the Alpha and Omega of treated wood reports, packed with important scientific results? Or, is it just another government boondoggle, filled with endless studies and results? And, what dirty little fact escaped the notice of the news reports?

Learn more about this when you read:

Special Report: Assessing the Assessment- Reviewing the Consumer Product Safety Commission's CCA Briefing Report- Great Science or Government Boondoggle?

The treated wood companies, and even some government agencies, continue to tout CCA treated wood as "safe" and "harmless", but is that really the case? While studies abound with data describing the health hazards of exposure to arsenic and chromium, how does this data extrapolate to the general human population? Have people been hurt by CCA wood? What kind of injuries did they suffer? What were the long term affects of their exposure to this so-called "safe" product? Have animals been hurt by CCA wood?

To find the answers read:

Special Report: Treated Wood's Legacy: A Trail of Tears

It has often been said that arsenic treated CCA wood presents a toxic hazard from the cradle to the grave - from its beginnings in China where arsenic is mined and imported into the United States to create the CCA formula used in treated wood, to its use in treated wood products in parks, playgrounds and backyards, to its grave- the local landfill nearest you. As the "phase-down" of CCA treated wood nears its advent next month, the "graveside" issues surrounding CCA wood are now leaching to the surface, creating problems as troublesome as the arsenic in the wood itself.

Find out more when you read:

CCA Wood Disposal Causing "Grave" Concerns for Regulators and Landfill Operators

Asbestos. Cigarettes. Treated wood. For years, lawyers have generated big fees from asbestos and cigarette litigation, wreaking havoc on investors along the way. Now the plaintiffs' bar is geared up for a new fight -- one Wall Street might be underestimating. The target: wood treated with the controversial chemical CCA.

Find out the details in this Special Report by Eric Savitz, reprinted from the June 17, 2002 Barron's Business & Financial Weekly:

Special Report: The New Asbestos? Treated-wood firms face legal threats

Arsenic is in the pressure-treated wood used to build decks, docks, gazebos and children's play sets. With evidence mounting that the poison can leak out, some people ask: Is it time to switch to a safer alternative?

Get the answers in this ground-breaking, provocative article by Julie Hauserman that started the CCA treated wood controversy, published March 11, 2001 in the St. Petersburg Times:

Special Report: The Poison in Your Backyard

BANCCA.ORG - Editorials and Special Reports Where the Truth about Toxic CCA Treated Wood comes to Light
	Special Reports Pressure treated wood - is it safe, or is it toxic? This question has plagued consumers, government agencies, attorneys, judges, juries, lumber retailers, parks and recreation officials, scientists and even the treated wood industry itself, since the late 1970s. Could this "miracle product" designed to never rot and never be eaten by insect pests possibly harm consumers and cause a wide array of health problems? Or, is the risk of harm exaggerated and the exposure benign? Now we have additional information that will show that some in the treated wood industry knew about the hazards of CCA treated wood products, and concealed the information from our government agencies and from the public. Learn more about this when you read: *Treated Wood's "Smoking Gun" - 1977 Memos from an Industry Insider Reveal CCA Wood Toxicity* One and 1/2 years, 1 million taxpayer dollars and 387 pages later, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has finally released its colossal two-volume briefing report on the safety of CCA treated wood in playground equipment, weighing in at just over 4 pounds. Is it the Alpha and Omega of treated wood reports, packed with important scientific results? Or, is it just another government boondoggle, filled with endless studies and results? And, what dirty little fact escaped the notice of the news reports? Learn more about this when you read: Special Report: Assessing the Assessment- Reviewing the Consumer Product Safety Commission's CCA Briefing Report- Great Science or Government Boondoggle? The treated wood companies, and even some government agencies, continue to tout CCA treated wood as "safe" and "harmless", but is that really the case? While studies abound with data describing the health hazards of exposure to arsenic and chromium, how does this data extrapolate to the general human population? Have people been hurt by CCA wood? What kind of injuries did they suffer? What were the long term affects of their exposure to this so-called "safe" product? Have animals been hurt by CCA wood? To find the answers read: Special Report: Treated Wood's Legacy: A Trail of Tears It has often been said that arsenic treated CCA wood presents a toxic hazard from the cradle to the grave - from its beginnings in China where arsenic is mined and imported into the United States to create the CCA formula used in treated wood, to its use in treated wood products in parks, playgrounds and backyards, to its grave- the local landfill nearest you. As the "phase-down" of CCA treated wood nears its advent next month, the "graveside" issues surrounding CCA wood are now leaching to the surface, creating problems as troublesome as the arsenic in the wood itself. Find out more when you read: CCA Wood Disposal Causing "Grave" Concerns for Regulators and Landfill Operators Asbestos. Cigarettes. Treated wood. For years, lawyers have generated big fees from asbestos and cigarette litigation, wreaking havoc on investors along the way. Now the plaintiffs' bar is geared up for a new fight -- one Wall Street might be underestimating. The target: wood treated with the controversial chemical CCA. Find out the details in this Special Report by Eric Savitz, reprinted from the June 17, 2002 Barron's Business & Financial Weekly: Special Report: The New Asbestos? Treated-wood firms face legal threats Arsenic is in the pressure-treated wood used to build decks, docks, gazebos and children's play sets. With evidence mounting that the poison can leak out, some people ask: Is it time to switch to a safer alternative? Get the answers in this ground-breaking, provocative article by Julie Hauserman that started the CCA treated wood controversy, published March 11, 2001 in the St. Petersburg Times: Special Report: The Poison in Your Backyard	Editorials The announcement just a few weeks ago by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that CCA-treated lumber products would be phased out over the next two years certainly seems like good news. But many questions remain. Questions like: Did the EPA go far enough? Will the phaseout really protect consumers and the environment? What about the CCA wood still found on retailer’s shelves and play-grounds around the country? Is the phaseout really just an industry sellout? For the answer read: Is the CCA Phaseout Just a Sellout? Reader's Comments It is refreshing to see that someone else is passionate about the dangers of one of the most potent poisons which we use in our daily lives. I am an independent scientist who became aware of the dangers of the arsenic and its abundance in our playgrounds, homes and recreation areas just last year. After building a deck with CCA treated wood, it was disturbing to learn that each one of the 10 foot 2 x 4s which I was handling contained enough arsenic which can kill 270 people (a Vermont Study). And it was equally disturbing to find out that in some States the waste CCA treated wood can be landfilled in unlined demolition landfill... Dr. K.O., Minnesota Your web site is disturbing. I wonder if that's what the wood on our deck is treated with. Thanks for your excellent web page. S.D., North Carolina I have recently found your interesting web site. As a marine biologist, I have studied effects of CCA in the aquatic environment for many years. We have published numerous papers in scientific journals on our findings that the wood does leach, that toxic effects are seen, and that effects are most severe in areas where the wood is new and where there are less water movements. I am glad to see that the product will be phased out... J.W., New Jersey Your synopsis of the CCA TAG meeting was better than my own notes, so I have opted to use yours over mine.....your work is first-class on the CCA subject...it reminds of one of the best pioneer websites on tobacco [from] many years ago... Your work has great value, I encourage you to keep it up. H.M., Louisianna My law firm [finds that] your website is invaluable as a clearinghouse for important information about this topic. Thank you for your efforts. B.R., Alabama Congratulations on your web site. It is very comprehensive, informative and professional. I only wish I had seen your web site or even been aware of the dangers of CCA timber before I worked with it. When I purchased the CCA timber, I knew it was treated for outdoors use, but I had no idea of the chemicals it contained or the dangers involved. Keep up the excellent work. P.H., Spain I visited your web site and now I see how specialized and focused you are on the cca issue and cause in particular...Your site is a real eye opener... well done! D.C., Florida Your web site is awesome. I have read some of the latest postings on your site. I am impressed with both your style of writing and your courage to post this information. You are doing great work, keep it up. R.M., British Columbia Eeek. Help Me. CCA is killing me! Eeeeeeek. Tony Lipsey, Robbins Lumber, USA Thanks for your site. Your site is huge and excellent. Congratulations on your good work. Cheers! M.B., Australia