Safety of Pressure Treated Lumber in our Playgrounds

Recommendation:
That the May 11, 2004, Community Services Department report 2004CSP023 be received for information.

Report Summary

This report provides information on the safety of pressure treated lumber in playgrounds.

Previous Council/Committee Action

  • At the June 1/7, 2004, Community Services Committee meeting, the May 11, 2004, Community Services Department report 2004CSP023 was postponed to the June 21, 2004, Community Services Committee meeting.
  • At the January 7, 2002, Community Service Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:

That within two months of a
re-evaluation of the safety of pressure treated lumber in playgrounds by Health Canada, a follow-up report be prepared for the Community Services Committee.

Report

  • Health Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), released a draft Report entitled Probabilistic Exposure and Risk Assessment for Children Who Contact CCA-Treated Wood on Playsets and Decks (Attachment 1). The draft report is currently available for scientific peer review and public comment. As the findings are preliminary and are subject to additional analysis and potential change, it is currently premature for the PMRA and the USEPA to reach conclusions about the potential cancer risk for children that are exposed to CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) treated play sets and decks. Results from this report are expected to be available in the United States and Canada late in 2004.
  • Community Services Department will report back to the Community Services Committee once the draft report has been finalized and released.
  • In addition to the re-evaluation note, a joint study entitled Arsenic on the Hands of Children after Playing in Playgrounds, was released on May 10, 2004, by the University of Alberta, Department of Public Health Sciences, Environmental Health, Capital Health Authority and the Health Surveillance Branch, Alberta Health and Wellness (Attachment 2): The study determined quantitative amounts of arsenic on the hands of children that played on eight CCA and eight non-CCA playground structures and sand in playgrounds owned by the City of Edmonton.
  • The conclusions of the study are “Children playing in playgrounds constructed with CCA-treated wood have approximately five times more arsenic on their hands than those playing in playgrounds that do not have CCA-treated wood structures. The higher values of arsenic on the hands of children playing in the CCA playgrounds are probably due to the direct contact with CCA-treated wood. Most of the arsenic on children’s hands is water-soluble and is readily washed off with water. It is recommended that children wash their hands after playing to reduce potential exposure to arsenic.
  • The concentrations of arsenic in soil/sand samples from both CCA and non-CCA playgrounds were below the Canadian guideline levels. The maximum amount of arsenic on children’s hands from the entire group of study participants was less than four microliters. (One millionth of a litre equals one microliter). Assuming that all the arsenic on children’s hands is ingested, the amount is lower than the average daily intake of arsenic from water and food.”
  • In May 2002 the Community Services Department took a proactive approach and discontinued using pressure treated wood to construct or repair playgrounds and park furnishings. Plastic, metal structures or non-preserved wood is used for new and replacement work on playground and park furnishings. The City’s current practice is to let existing pressure treated wood playground structures remain in place to the end of the equipment’s life cycle. The Community Services Department currently maintains 316 playgrounds where 222 were constructed either totally or partially with pressure treated wood.

Background Information Attached

  1. Re-evaluation Note, REV 200307, Update on CCA, Pest Management Regulatory Agency
  2. Executive Summary, Arsenic on the Hands of Children after Playing in Playgrounds

Background Information Available Upon Request

  1. Arsenic on the Hands of Children after Playing in Playgrounds – Full Report

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Attachment 2

Executive Summary – Arsenic on the Hands of Children after Playing in Playgrounds

Executive Summary

Wood preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is widely used in many structures, including residential decks and public playgrounds. The main concerns over the use of CCA-treated wood in playground structures arise from potential exposure to arsenic, through hand-to-mouth activities, by children playing in these playgrounds. Limited data from previous studies analyzing arsenic levels in sand samples collected from CCA playgrounds are inconsistent, and cannot be directly translated to the amount of arsenic exposure by children. The objective of this study was to determine the quantitative amounts of arsenic on the hands of children in contact with CCA-treated wood structures or sand in playgrounds.

This study was conducted in the summer of 2003 in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where 222 of 316 city-owned public playgrounds were constructed either totally or partially with CCA-treated wood at the time of the study. Eight playgrounds that were constructed with CCA-treated wood and another eight playgrounds that did not contain CCA-treated wood were sampled. Sixty-six children playing in the CCA playgrounds and 64 children playing in the non-CCA playgrounds participated in the study. The parents of the participating children provided written consent. After playing, children’s hands were washed in a bag containing 150 mL of deionized water. Quantification of arsenic levels in the hand washing was conducted by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Sand and soil samples from the playgrounds were also analyzed for arsenic levels.

The ages of the participating children were 4.7+2.5 (mean value + standard deviation) years for the CCA playgrounds and 4.8+2.4 for the non-CCA playgrounds. There is no significant difference in children’s age between the two groups. The duration of play in the playgrounds was similar between the groups of CCA and non-CCA playgrounds. Most participating children played in the playgrounds for 30-120 min.

Attachment 2 - Page 1 of 2