CCA Treated Wood Victims - Stories of CCA Injuries

The treated wood companies, and even some government agencies, continue to tout arsenic 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 treated 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?

The treated wood industry has an answer to this question. They claim that CCA treated wood is"safe and environmentally sound". Their sales brochures, available at the sales counters of most major lumber retailer stores, reassure consumers that arsenic treated wood is "safe for human contact" and that "there is no risk to human health" for users of this product. But is that really true?

To find the answer to these questions, it is essential to review the reports from those who have come forward and spoken up about their injuries. It is to them that this page is dedicated - to the unsung heroes who were unwittingly and unknowingly injured by a product that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Canadian government, and the Australian government have yet to declare hazardous.

To the right you will find the section entitled, "First Hand Accounts". These stories from real victims are drawn from court case records, newspaper articles published in the U.S. or Canada, and others were emailed to BANCCA.ORG by the victims themselves.

In the table that follows below you will find official government incident reports from CCA related injuries. These are excerpts from the official Incident Reports on file with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from the reports from the EPA-sponsored National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN), and from the files of state health agencies. All of them are real accounts about real people.

These EPA and NPTN Incident call logs were obtained from a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by BANCCA.ORG with the EPA. We were shocked by both the volume and the content of the data found in the EPA's own archives. There were over 300 pages of Incident reports from across the country, with reports of injuries to men, women, children- even entire families- as well as cattle, horses and dogs. One particularly credible animal injury report is from an experienced equine veterinarian.

These injuries were reported by consumers, their families, carpenters, plant workers, doctors and attorneys. These numerous and varied injury reports are not just anecdotal accounts that should be dismissed, but represent only a small portion of the larger dataset of injuries caused by exposure to CCA treated wood - a product still readily available at any lumber or hardware store.

Please note that we have attempted to leave the wording of these accounts and reports in their original format as much as possible, with only minimal editing. However, the names of injured persons, corporations and the actual places have been removed for privacy reasons.

Date	Male/Female/Child/Animal -(Age @ injury)	Type of Exposure	Details of Victim's Exposure	State or Country
1983	Male (age 42)	Inhalational	"For two years, Larry XXXX started fireplace fires in his home with [CCA treated telephone poles]. …Health officials now believe that the poles were treated with toxic chemicals…Their fumes are blamed for Larry's mysterious paralysis from the chest down and the nosebleeds, bronchitis, and nausea his wife and children have experienced… Tests revealed that [Larry] had high levels of Arsenic in his system… Checks of the XXXX household indicated that Mrs. XXXX and their [3] children… also had high levels of arsenic in their bodies. …Now, with special cuffs on his wrists, [Larry] can eat and write. He directs his wheelchair with leather bicycle gloves…"	Indiana
3/1983	1 Male/1 Female (age 40, age 42)	InhalationalDermal	"A study reports a case of a man and woman [constructing] picnic tables for the Forestry Service using freshly-treated CCA lumber… in a non-ventilated garage…both workers began to experience spontaneous nose bleeds, heaviness of the chest, itching and burning of the skin, stomachache, and the woman noted that her hair pulled out when combed [alopecia]." They also noted alterations in memory, darkening of the urine, and the male worker suffered from severe tarry stools and then massive melena requiring hospitalization and [a blood transfusion]. [Other symptoms included] …blackouts, aching of the legs, metallic taste in the mouth, tingling in the fingertips, …aching shoulder muscles, nausea, and liver problems [possible cirrhosis]."	Illinois
1984	Family: man, woman, 2 boys, 4 girls	Inhalational	"All eight members of a rural Wisconsin family experienced recurring neurological and medical illness over three years, especially during the winter months. For four years their home had been heated with a wood stove in which [CCA treated] wood remnants were burned… The parents and children experienced various health problems including sensory hyperesthesias, muscle cramps, recurrent pruritic conjunctivitis, earaches, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonitis… The children displayed recurrent "measles-like" rashes consisting of pinpoint hyperemic pruritic dermatitis. …The youngest [male] member of the family experienced a thrombosed penile artery… All family members complained of malaise, easy fatigue, and a lack of sensation in the arms, hands, feet and legs. …Headaches were frequent, and the parents complained of 'blacking out' for periods of up to two hours…The two youngest childresn had multiple seizures described as grand mal from birth to 1 year. All [family] members experienced frequent nosebleeds and [hair loss] alopecia, [resulting in] complete baldness in the youngest children. All symptoms alleviated during the summer months…" - Case Study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, May 11, 1984, pgs. 2393-2396.	Wisc.
1987	Two workers, at least one male. (ages N/A)	Inhalational	"Two workers were exposed while working with [CCA] treated wood. He was wearing a dust mask. Symptoms included headache, dizziness, shaking and upset stomach." [Note: Workers missed two days of work because of the exposure.]	California
4/1993	1 Male/1 Female (ages N/A)	Ingestion	Letter from the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture states: " The MDA received a…complaint that alleged arsenic poisoning occurred as a result of using [CCA] pressurized timber in a vegetable garden. The complaintants reported feeling ill after eating produce from the garden. A soil sample and produce sample [a potato] were analyzed and found to have high rates of arsenic… there may be an issue of human health." [Symptoms reported included] tingling in the body and fatigue, … and loss of muscle control… in about 3 months all of the symptoms went away…" [Note: the soil sample contained 90 ppm arsenic and 100 ppm chromium; the potato contained 17 ug/kg arsenic.]	Minn.
11/1994	Male (age 36)	Dermal	An attorney's letter states that "…my client XXXX, …suffered severe injuries due to exposure to Chromate Copper Arsenate [CCA] while working at XXX Lumber Company. Mr. XXX was handling lumber…when he was injured… As a result of his exposure, Mr. XXXX immediately experienced itching, burning and red spots on his body, as well as respiratory difficulty…accompanied by shortness of breath and weakness. He also developed disorientation and forgetfulness…[and] has experienced and continues to experience severe fatique, skin rashes, multiple allergic symptoms, multiple neurological symptoms, multiple joint pains, abdominal pains and chest pains, among other ailments… Mr. XXXX's injuries include multiple chemical sensitivities, asthma,…hyperallergic syndrome with immunologic dysfunction and recurrent infections. He is now permanently and totally disabled… he requires the frequent use of an oxygen mask to breathe."	N/A
1995	Worker, probably male. (age N/A)	Inhalational	"A lumber mill worker developed nausea and pain [radiating down to the shoulders] while boring holes in [CCA] treated wood to check penetration of the antifungal treatment. He complained of his symptoms to his supervisor 5 days later and was sent to a doctor."	California
5/1995	Male (age N/A)	Dermal	Corporate Human Moderate Incident Report to EPA reads, "[Consumer] alleges that while using CCA treated wood, a splinter of wood entered plaintiff's middle finger which later developed a severe infection in and around the area of the splinter, causing severe and serious injuries. He also alleges dorsal cellulitis, ascending limphangitis, and acute tenosynovitis, which included surgical repair of the right middle finger… he alleges damage to the bones, nerves, connective tissues, flesh and muscles of his right hand."	Penn.
7/1995	Horse	Ingestion	"Caller's horse had been poisoned by chromated copper arsenate. The horse had chewed and eaten the pressure-treated wood [aka cribbing]. The arsenic poisoning was confirmed by the vet and the horse almost died. Caller wanted any information she could have on [CCA]…"	Colorado
8/1995	Man (45-64 yrs.)	Inhalational	"[Caller reported being] exposed to fumes from a wood preservative plant [for] several years. Plant used CCA, Creosote, and Pentachlorophenol. Apparently, he has evidence that their scrubber wasn't working. He stopped working [near the plant] 5 years ago. He has had lots of medical problems: pressure in [his] head, lost use of legs, right side of head numb, "crazy as a bed bug", incoordination. [He has had] lots of MRIs. Of [the plant's] 30 employees, 11 have died; many survivors have heart conditions or cancer."	Florida
8/1995	1 Female (25-44 yrs.), 1 Female (age 2)	Inhalational Dermal	"CCA Pressure treated wood steps were installed 6 months ago [in their] condo. Weeping [and] seeping [was noticed]. [Caller] had seepage analyzed [and found] 173 mg/kg Arsenic. Toddler in household. Mother had dermatitis on face 2 months ago before they identified the problem, possibly related to handling the daughter's shoes? Daughter has greenish stain on teeth, possibly from eating the sap? …Condo association has applied sealer, [but] some sap is coming through the sealer. She has contacted Yale Occupational Health Clinic. Refer to XXXX for possibility of tissue analysis for arsenic. She called a number of people at the EPA, including Frank D." [Note: sap sample from stair allegedly showed 173 mg/kg arsenic]	Conn.
11/1995	Female (late 30s)	Dermal	Corporate Human Minor Incident Report, reads in part, "Ms. XXXX alleged she received splinters from treated wood" and "she immediately experienced pain… One week after incident, [she] saw her family physician. Ms. XXXX alleged that she experienced a rare infection and eventual amputation of digits on two fingers."	Utah
8/1996	Dog	Ingestion	"Caller owns a 7 mos. German Shepherd puppy that is convulsing and is currently in the animal hospital. She suspects her puppy chewed fence posts containing 0.40 [pcf] chromium copper arsenate (CCA). I transferred the caller to Animal Poison Control."	Virginia
10/1996	1 Female child (age 2), 12 Cows	Ingestion	North Carolina farm family reported problems after burning CCA wood scraps and disposing of the ashes in their pasture. This resulted in arsenic toxicosis in which "…eight cows died and four pregnant cows later delivered dead calves. Several more cows were sick and were [seen] staggering and stumbling… Their two year old child became acutely ill with abdominal pain [possibly from the CCA wood smoke] and was taken to the local hospital… [where high levels of arsenic were detected in her blood.] … With respect to the future, the child has no problem at this time suggesting any type of peripheral neuropathy…nevertheless, [there is a] future danger of the development of multiple skin cancers including the squamous cel carcinaoma type which is associated with acute arsenic intoxication or with chronic low dose arsenic ingestion. This case represents a situation in which people are purchasing arsenic treated lumber with any warning as to potential problems. "	N.C.
9/1997	Dog	Dermal Inhalational Ingestion	"Caller has a dog (Yellow Lab about 85 lbs.) that may have been exposed to CCA [wood] in his dog cage. The dog spends the days in the cage and has done so ever since he was a puppy. The floor is not covered with shellac or other urethane coating. The dog seems to show signs of lethargy, stiffness, no energy. …Dog could possibly have been exposed either thru dermal or inhalation or ingestion, esp[ecially] since it is such a confined space. …dog could be tested for exposure thru urine or hair."	Wisc.
10/1997	Male (age 70)	Dermal Inhalational	Letter to EPA states, "...the nerves are pretty well ruined in my feet and legs. …from '93 to '95, I was the superintendent of a construction job where a lot of [CCA] treated lumber was used… A lot of saw dust and fumes from the hot router bit was present most of the time while I cut the pressure treated lumber… At no time were we told about the dangers involved with the use of CCA treated lumber."	Florida
4/1998	Group of Horses	Ingestion	"Caller is an Equine Veterinarian …trying to figure out how horses would be exposed to Arsenic. Four horses are currently sick and 3 are dead (14, 2 and 1 yrs. Old). This began in Feb. 1998. Caller has seen arsenic poisoning in cattle lead to death and is familiar with signs and symptoms of arsenic poisoning. Post mortem sample from liver, stomach contents and feed have been taken for [lab] analysis. Michigan State tested the liver and said Arsenic was at 19 PPM. Purdue is testing the stomach contents and feed. The caller [veterinarian] feels like no regulatory agency is properly investigating [this]. Caller thinks this is an example of classical arsenic poisoning."	Indiana
6/1998	Cattle	Ingestion	A study reports a case of "arsenic toxicosis attributable to ingestion of ashes from burned posts treated with an arsenic-containing preservative [CCA]… Seven cows from a herd of 37 developed diarrhea, weakness, stumbling and prostration. Four of the affected cattle died within a 48-hour period." -Veterinary and Human Toxicology Vol 40(3) June, 1998 pgs. 147-148.	Georgia
8/1998	Family	Inhalational	Caller cooked some hot dogs on the grill with [CCA] pressure treated lumber. Several people ate the hot dogs. She wanted to know if she needed to go to the hospital."	Maine
9/1998	Man/Dog	Dermal Inhalational Ingestion	Phone call from a government agency: "Caller has a case where a man was sawing pressure treated wood for a period of 3 months. The man now says he has kidney problems. A few months after the man started sawing the wood, his dog dies of unknown causes. Caller noted that the dog may have eaten some of the sawdust."	Penn.
10/1998	Male (age N/A)	Inhalational	"Caller was exposed to fumes/smoke of CCA Treated Wood. Wood was being burned by his neighbor who has a guard rail business using CCA Treated Wood. He lived next to his neighbor for quite a while… Tested soil and found high levels of arsenic. Neighbor was told [by State or EPA] not to burn CCA treated wood [and] to dispose of the contaminated soil in a dumpster. Saturday, he [victim] was on his tractor working the his field and noticed neighbor was burning wood. He complained of coughing and chest congestion. He went to his doctor and had tests on his blood and urine…"	Texas
10/1998	Male (age N/A)	Dermal	Corporate Human Moderate Incident Report to EPA reads, "[Consumer] built deck with CCA treated wood. Bought treated lumber 3 years ago to build deck. Since that time he has developed a chronic rash. [He] started getting better, but 2 weeks ago, he assisted a neighbor in cutting some treated lumber. The rash has returned. [He] claims the last doctor said he was probably showing an allergy to a chemical. [He] claims to have visited 7 or 8 doctors."	N/A
10/1998	Male (age N/A)	Dermal	Corporate Human Major Incident Report to EPA states, "Employee worked in the arsenic acid filter site area of the XXXXXX, Tennesee facility. [Exposure method was] uncertain, possible direct contact (splash) with liquid concentrate [of arsenic]. Employee was referred to a dermatologist after annual physical examination for treatment of a skin condition on his chest and arms. Mr. XXXX was previously diagnosed with scleraderma, but the internist diagnosed arsenic toxicity after finding evidence of arsenic in [his] hair and nail samples. …the internist refused to change his diagnosis form arsenic toxicity. He is bed-ridden, still hospitalized. Unable to eat due to esophagus damage…"	Tenn.
3/1999	Male (age N/A)	Inhalational Dermal?	Corporate Human Major Incident Report to EPA reads, "Mr. XXXX is an employee of YYYYYY, Inc and has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgin's Lymphoma, and has filed a Long Term Disability Claim in which [CCA] chemical exposure was listed as contributing to the disability. Mr. XXXX is experiencing tiredness, multiple enlarged lymph nodes and neck mass." Employee is receiving "chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments".	Tenn.
1/2000	Male (age N/A)	Dermal	Corporate Human Moderate Incident Report to EPA reads, "[Attorney David} McCrea claims his client [while building a deck], slipped and fell on the end of CCA treated wood and approximately 12 splinters entered his shin. He experienced inflammation and went to the emergency room 4 days after the accident. He claims to have experienced [other] problems since that date." Other reported symptoms include "cellulitis, acute lymphadenitis, erythema, swollen leg, tenderness, hypertension."	N/A
9/2000	Male (age N/A)	Inhalational Dermal	Corporate Human Major Incident Report states, "Mr. XXXX worked for 15 years building wheelchair ramps treated with CCA treated wood. He was exposed by "inhaling sawdust [and] direct hand/skin contact with wood." Recently, he became ill and had to be hospitalized for pneu-monia and congestive heart failure. Once he had recovered, he returned to work, and became ill again. This time he complained of respiratory soreness and soreness in his eyes."	Georgia
7/2001	Female (age N/A)	Inhalational	Email Report from the NPTN Manager to the EPA reads:, "[Ms. XXXX called] about her recent reaction which concided with her husband's use of treated wood (presumably CCA). …He had been cutting wood outside on 3 successive weekends to make a fence. She reported being exposed to the sawdust by inhalation, and wondered if that might have led to a flare-up of a number of problems, most notably respiratory problems… Her principal symptoms recently have been pain in the chest, coughing, difficulty breathing, joint pain, and cognitive problems, such as short term memory loss, concentration, confusion, persistent headaches, unusual weakness and blurred vision. Her doctors have not been able to help her or diagnose what is wrong. Her symptoms definitely like MCS [Multiple Chemical Sensitivity], chronic fatigue syndrome… and she reports getting panic attacks. My hypothesis is that chemical imbalance leads to this problem and that some pesticides are among the things that can trigger or exacerbate this disease. …*I would point out that the demographic most affected by this illness are women (70-80%) between the ages of 30 and 50.* …The kind of comprehensive research that is nedded would require concentrated support at the highest levels of management."	N/A
3/2002	Male (40s) Female (40s)	Inhalational Dermal	Report from the NPTN to the EPA about the famous case in Mississippi couple who were poisoned, reported by the Gainesville Sun reads, "It is hard to understand how such a high level [of arsenic] in the urine could occur just from sawing the wood. It would mean breathing a lot of dust, or…some exposure from inadvertent ingestion or breathing smoke while the [CCA] wood was being burned." Note: This couple were both hospitalized due to arsenic poisoning. The husband was charged (temporarily) with attempted murder when his wife's test revealed high arsenic levels. The FBI and Mississippi State Police investigated, but dropped the charges against the husband when his own hair samples revealed higher levels than his wife's. The couple were "handling and sawing CCA-treated wood" to build a deck for their log home… The wife's arsenic levels were 5230 ppb, 100 times higher than normal levels. The woman reported symptoms of "severe diarrhea, vomiting, nauseu and cramps". She was hospitalized 6 times. The man was "hospitalized for fevers, chills, fatgue and unexplained rashes". They "are under constant medical care and continue to suffer from fatigue, rashes, and, in [the man's] case, 'seizure-like' episodes…". A lawsuit is pending.	Miss.