May 2006 | Co-op America’s Living Green
Safer Outdoor Decks
Dear Co-op America, I’ve heard that outdoor decks may be treated with arsenic. Is this true? What should I do with the deck on my home, built in the 1980s? — Jim B., E-mail
Jim, you’re right to be concerned. In 2001, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Healthy Building Network (HBN) drew attention to the problem of pressure-treated wood, which was widely used in playgrounds, decks, and outdoor furniture. To kill insects and prevent rot, this wood was treated with chromium copper arsenate (CCA), a known carcinogen. EWG (202/667-6982, www.ewg.org) estimates that a 40-pound child playing daily on CCA-treated wood could be exposed to five times the arsenic allowed under EPA drinking water standards. Arsenic sticks to children’s hands when they play on treated wood. It is absorbed through the skin and ingested when they put their hands in their mouths.
EWG and HBN (www.healthybuilding.net) petitioned the US government to ban arsenic-treated wood in playground equipment and review its safety for use in other consumer items. In 2002, the EPA announced a voluntary agreement with the wood-treatment industry to cease sales of CCA-treated wood for most residential uses by the end of 2004.
Since you have a wooden deck built before 2005, you may want to get a test kit from EWG to see if it contains arsenic. If it does, consider replacing it — or at least the steps and handrails that are heavily used. EWG also recommends the following:
• Seal the deck at least every six months with penetrating wood treatments. AFM is one company offering less-toxic sealants (800/239-0321; www.afmsafecoat.com).
• Wash your hands and your children’s hands after every exposure.
• Keep children and pets away from soil beneath and immediately surrounding arsenic-treated wood. Don’t store items underneath your deck.
• Don’t pressure-wash or sand arsenic-treated wood — both will release contaminated particles. If your deck has become rough, beware — the splinters can be dangerous.
• Don’t use commercial “deck washing” solutions. These can convert chemicals in the wood to more toxic forms.
If you decide to remove a CCA-treated deck, ask your local waste disposal authority how to deal with it properly. Burning the wood will release toxins. Also, test the soil near the deck for contamination. Consider replacing the deck with eco-friendly FSC-certified wood, which comes from sustainably managed forests or use recycled-plastic lumber.
Dear Co-op America, I want to buy the greenest, gas-powered car I can. How do I choose? — Terri in Wisconsin
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) Green Book can help you choose the greenest car available to meet your needs. Updated annually, the Green Book ranks all models from 2000-2006 according to their eco-friendliness. ACEEE (202/429-8873) also lists the top ten greenest cars on its Web site (www.aceee.org). Heading the list are two hybrids — the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius — and the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX.
Living Green is brought to you by Co-op America, a national nonprofit that provides green living, purchasing, and investing tips and resources. To join Co-op America and get a free copy of the National Green Pages™ directory of green businesses, call 800/58-GREEN, www.coopamerica.org. E-mail your Living Green questions.
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