What was chromated copper arsenate used for?

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a wood preservative containing compounds of chromium, copper, and arsenic, in various proportions. It is used to impregnate timber and other wood products, especially those intended for outdoor use, in order to protect them from attack by microbes and insects.

What is the problem with CCA?

We have identified potential environmental concerns associated with the use of CCA wood: Arsenic translocated to soil and water via: leaching from wood; runoff from lumber yards; and sawdust and physical wearing of the wood.

Is CCA a pesticide?

Chromated arsenicals, which include chromated copper arsenate (CCA), are a group of pesticides containing chromium, copper, and/or arsenic that protect wood against termites, fungi and other pests that can degrade or threaten the integrity of wood products.

When was CCA used?

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a chemical preservative that protects wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents. It has been used to pressure-treated lumber since the 1930s. Since the 1970s, the majority of the wood used in residential settings was CCA-treated wood.

Why was CCA banned?

In 2001, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the EPA received several petitions to ban CCA use in playground equipment because of potential human health concerns about exposure to chemical residues from contact with the wood and surrounding soil.

Is CCA treated wood banned?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has not banned CCA, but it is desirable to to take the recommended precautions to limit exposure to CCA-treated wood because it contains arsenic, a known human carcinogen.

Does CCA leach into soil?

Older treated pine (called CCA treated pine) is preserved with copper and chrome arsenate (containing arsenic) and studies have shown low levels of these chemicals can leach into the soil and have been found in some root vegetables.

Is copper chrome arsenate toxic?

Copper chrome arsenate (CCA) is a water-borne solution of up to 25% copper, up to 45% chromium and up to 37% arsenic. This treatment makes the timber highly resistant to pests and fungi but it can also be toxic when handled or burnt, and should never be used for household building or renovation.

Where is CCA banned?

Partial or complete restriction of CCA occurs in a number of countries including Japan, Indonesia, Sweden and Germany. In the USA, CCA cannot be used in the domestic or home markets. In Australia, CCA preservatives are regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

Is CCA better than ACQ?

Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ) and Copper Azole (CA) generally leach more than CCA-treated wood. However, the parts that are released into the environment tend to be lower in toxicity.

Is CCA toxic?

CCA is highly toxic to human health and the environment. The arsenic, which migrates to the wood’s surface, and leaches out, contaminating surround- ing soil, is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to nervous system damage and birth defects.

Is CCA still used in Australia?

Copper chromium arsenic (CCA) is Australia’s most widely used wood preservative. It has been used safely in Australia for 50 years and some 120 treatment plants are currently operating around the country.