The Rise and Fall of CCA Treated Wood Industry - A Timeline of Arsenic Treated Wood Products

Date

Event

1880s

Creosote pressure-treated railroad ties first used in the United States.

1911

Copper Napthenate first used commercially as a wood preservative.

1926

Copper Chromate (CC) wood preservative
developed by the Celcure Company.

1933

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) wood preservative formula is patented.

1933

CCA Treated lumber is sold in Europe.

1938

CCA-A (the first CCA formulation) is
introduced in the United States.

1955

American Wood Preservers Institute (AWPI), a wood treatment industry group, is established.

1968

CCA-C, the most widely-used formulation for Chromated Copper Arsenate,
is introduced.

1968

First report of a CCA-related worker injury occurred at Koppers, when workers fell ill after breathing CCA sawdust.

1968

Drs. Ferm and Carpenter publish study on birth defects caused by arsenic in laboratory animals. (1)

1972

Dr. Ronald Hood publishes additional studies on the teratogenic effects of arsenic on fetal development in mice. (2)

Mid-1970s

Germany bans CCA treated wood.

1978

EPA begins Special Review (RPAR) of CCA,
due to concerns that CCA exceeded the EPA’s own risk criteria for fetotoxicity/teratogenicity (birth defects), oncogenicity (cancer) and mutagenicity (mutations).

Mid-1980s

Demand for CCA-treated lumber soars during the 5 year period of 1983-1988. (9)

Mid-1980s

Reports of CCA injuries begin to mount.

1983-1986

CCA injury case studies are published in medical journals,
including The Journal for the American Medical Association.
Scientists warn that:
“working with CCA treated lumber with power equipment in an enclosed area appears to pose a very severe health hazard”, and that “vigorous measures [should] be taken to inform the lumber industry and the general public of the hazards of burning CCA treated wood...” (3)

1985

At the request of the EPA, the treated wood industry agrees to develop consumer information sheets as part of a voluntary Consumer Awareness Program (CAP) with important safety information to provide to consumers (end users) of wood preserved with CCA, creosote, or pentacholorophenol (penta).

These warning sheets were to contain steps to prevent potentially hazardous exposures to wood preservatives, and include handling, wood working, and disposal precautions. (4)

1987

California Department of Health Services (DHS) issues report to the state legislature on the hazards posed by the use of wood preservatives in playground equipment.

1988

EPA concludes its Special Review of CCA and issues a new registration standard for inorganic arsenicals, which imposes additional conditions on CCA’s usages, but no restrictions on its use in treated wood . CCA is now classified as a restricted use pesticide.

In addition, arsenic and hexavalent chromium are now classified as “class A carcinogens”.

The EPA acknowledges for the first time that both arsenic and chromium have the potential to cause teratogenic/fetotoxic effects.

Late 1980s

Canadian research scientist, Dieter Riedel of Health Canada,
conducts first research study into arsenic leached from playground equipment.
He tested 10 CCA wood playground structures and found arsenic on all 10 structures and in the soil around them. His study was not published for a few more years.

January 1990

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commisson (CPSC) begins its own health study called:
“Project for Estimate of Risk of Skin Cancer from Dislodgeable Arsenic on Pressure Treated Wood Playground Equipment”.

August 1990

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publishes flawed study results on the risk of skin cancer from arsenic on pressure treated wood used in playground equipment. (4)

The CPSC issues recommendations that:

1) Treated wood manufacturers & playground equipment manufacturers develop procedures to reduce arsenic in treated wood products.
2) Wood preservers should increase availability of their consumer information sheets.
3) the exposure of consumers to arsenic during woodworking operations (sanding, sawing, etc.) should be reviewed.

1992

Canadian study by Drs. Doyle & Malaiyandi on CCA leaching in soil samples and dislodging from playground equipment is published. Study also focuses on reducing user exposure. (5)

1993

Sweden bans CCA lumber products.

1993

U.S. EPA bans use of arsenic acid (a pesticide containing inorganic arsenic, which is also a component of CCA) for treating cotton crops. (9)

1993

Australian study published on environmental and occupational health aspects of using CCA-treated wood for constructing boardwalks. (6)

July 1994

New Jersey becomes first state to restrict the use of CCA wood in marine applications. CCA is restricted in construction of new or rebuilt marine structures at marinas where shellfish are prominent. (9)

1994

Demand for CCA lumber soars again, as
housing starts rose by 13% in 1994. (9)

1996

Toxic arsenic levels detected in ash from wood co-generation facilities around Florida stirs controversy.

1998

Drs. Stillwell and Gorny of the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station publishes new study on soil contamination from CCA-treated wood decks. (8)

1999

Minnesota Listed Metals Advisory Council invites the Florida CCA Research team to their proceedings on hexavalent chromium. Committee debates whether to ban CCA-treated wood.

1999

Arsenic is discovered in the soil at a Gainesville, Florida area
elementary school playground, spurring a big controversy.
The playground is soon torn down and all contaminated soil is remediated.

1999

Citizens of Eastham, Massachusetts vote to use non-CCA treated wood on new dock project due to environmental issues over CCA wood.

2000

Osmose, Inc., a treated wood preserver, publishes its own study of soil contamination from CCA decks.

2000

Disney World chooses to use non-CCA treated wood in the construction of their
Animal Kingdom theme park due to concerns about toxicity to zoo animals.

2000

EPA begins re-evaluating failed Consumer Awareness Program (CAP) where wood industry volunteered to notify consumers of CCA wood health hazards.

March 2001

St. Petersburg Times releases Special Report:
“The Poison in your Back Yard”.

Gainesville Sun follows suit with Special Report:
“Wood Worries”.

April 2001

Florida DEP issues moratorium on purchase of CCA treated wood for use in state parks.
DEP also asks the Florida legislature for funds to convert a state-owned wood treatment plant from CCA to ACQ.

April 2001

Senator Bill Nelson petitions EPA Director Whitman for new mandatory warning labels
for CCA treated wood products.

May 2001

Rep. Larry Crow of the Florida Legislature begins failed attempt to get CCA wood banned in Florida.

May 2001

Environmental groups petition U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the use of CCA wood for playground equipment.

July 2001

Treated wood industry agrees to new voluntary warning labels on CCA treated wood.

September 2001

Alachua County, Florida votes to close 10 area playgrounds and tear down their CCA playground structures, replacing them with plastic and metal instead. County also bans all future CCA uses.

October 2001

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Canadian government agencies review safety issues of CCA wood. Scientific advisory panels meet to discuss CCA hazards & issues.

October 2001

Bush administration and EPA adopt a more stringent arsenic limit of 10 ppb for drinking water.

November 2001

Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes provocative report about arsenic levels
found in off-the-shelf CCA lumber sold at Lowes and Home Depot retail stores.

December 2001

EPA scientists from FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel recommend
a “bio-monitoring” study of children exposed to CCA wood in playgrounds.

January 2002

States, towns and villages across the U.S. rally to ban CCA from their parks and playgrounds,
including the state of Massachusetts, cities of Denver and St. Louis, and the town of Healey, Alaska.

February 2002

European Union considers banning CCA treated wood in its 15 member countries, including:

Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Spain,
Italy, Greece, Austria, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland,
Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands.

February 12 2002

The treated wood industry and the EPA agree to a 2 year voluntary
phaseout of most CCA treated lumber products for residential use.

The Phase-out is to conclude by December 31, 2003. No further sales of
CCA lumber allowed for residential purposes in the U.S. after this date.

March 2002

EWG and other environmental groups petition EPA to stop sales of arsenic-treated wood and
shorten the phase-out period.

April 6 2002

Canadian wood treaters and Canadian government agencies including Health Canada agree to
voluntary phase-out of CCA wood products, similar to U.S. phaseout, ending by December, 2003.

May 2002

New study data revealed at CCA Technical Advisory Group meeting in Gainesville shows that aged CCA wood
leaches a more potent form of arsenic than previously thought. In addition, toxic hexavalent chromium is shown to also leach from CCA wood under alkaline conditions.

June 2002

New York State Legislature Passes CCA Ban

Sept. 2002

Environmental Working Group (EWG) report shows
high levels of arsenic leaching out of pressure–treated wood
in older decks, playsets, and picnic tables.

Dec. 2002

Injuries from arsenic in CCA scrap found in landscaping mulch are reported.

Dec. 10, 2002

Environmental group Beyond Pesticides, Communication Workers of America, BANCCA.ORG and others
join together to sue the EPA to ban all forms of toxic treated wood, including creosote, pentachlorophenol and CCA treated wood.

Dec. 16, 2002

The Kerr-McGee Corporation, the nation's largest creosote producer, announced that it would be leaving the forest products business and closing at least 4 of its 5 forest products plants immediately.

Dec. 31, 2002

The American Wood Preservatives Institute (AWPI), the national industry trade association representing the pressure-treated wood industry, closes its offices, laying off all of its employees.

Jan. 7,
2003

The European Union (EU) announces its ban on arsenic in wood preservatives,
including CCA, to take effect on June 30, 2004.

Feb. 7 , 2003

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) releases its long-awaited report on the
safety of CCA treated wood in playground equipment, which details a possible
1-in-10,000 maximum risk of increased lung and bladder cancer.

Mar. 17,
2003

EPA announces the finalization of the voluntary ban on residential
uses of CCA, to take effect on December 31, 2003.

June 4, 2003

Maine bans the sale of all CCA treated wood.

July 27, 2003

Class action law suit filed against Home Depot
over CCA wood on behalf of all consumers in Texas.

July 28, 2003

Australian PVMA announces intent to
review all CCA treated wood for possible ban.

Sept 03, 2003

Flagler County, Florida enacts ban on CCA treated wood.

Oct. 15,
2003

US Consumer Product Saftety Commission
rejects recall of CCA Treated wood in Playground Equipment.

Nov. 13, 2003

EPA releases results of Probabilistic Risk
Assessment on CCA treated wood in Playground Equipment.

Dec. 24, 2003

Australian PVMA releases draft report and
calls for a ban of CCA treated wood.

Dec. 31, 2003

Last day to legally manufacture CCA treated wood for
residential purposes in the United States.

Jan. 1, 2004

EPA's voluntary ban on manufacture of residential
CCA Treated wood products in the US takes effect.

Jan. 30, 2004

Judge Denies Right of Environmental Groups (Beyond Pesticides, et. al.)
to Sue US EPA for Delay on Hazardous Wood Preservatives

Feb. 8-11, 2004

International Conference on the Environmental Impacts of
Treated Wood Preservatives is held in Orlando, FL.

Mar. 16, 2005

Australia's Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (PVMA) has rules that
CCA treated timber will be phased out for use in playground equipment.

Jun. 24, 2011

US EPA, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the USDA jointly issue a
new warning brochure on the hazards of arsenic treated wood (CCA treated wood).

Jul. 26, 2011

European Commission publishes new restrictions on industrial uses of creosote treated wood used in rail ties,
which will virtually ban all uses of creosote. These new rules will take effect on May 1, 2013.