Timber treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA)
CCA treated timber is a potential health risk because it contains arsenic. Boards need to manage this risk, especially in the playground.
What is CCA?
CCA is a preservative made of chemical compounds containing copper, chromium and arsenic. It’s been used to treat wood to stop it rotting in outdoor settings since the 1930s.
In schools, CCA treated timber is often used in:
- playgrounds
- the wood around a sandpit
- decking.
CCA treated timber is also known as tanalised wood.
Managing the risks of CCA
Chromium, copper and arsenic all occur naturally in the environment. They’re only a health risk if people are exposed to large amounts over a certain period of time. Exposure includes:
- swallowing
- inhaling
- skin contact.
A report by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) states that, while arsenic is a known human carcinogen and should be avoided, CCA-treated timber does not pose significant risks to the public.
The EPA provides information about CCA treated timber, which includes advice on applying sealing products to CCA-treated timber. They don’t recommend replacing or removing existing structures made with CCA-treated timber or the soil surrounding those structures.