1. Identify outdoor wood that’s been treated with CCA.
   • Before February 2002, most pressure treated wood used in decks, patio furniture, children’s playground equipment, benches and picnic tables was made with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Some CCA-treated wood has a green tint. Testing is the only way to know for certain if the wood around your home contains arsenic. Test kits are available at cost from the Healthy Building Network and Environmental Working Group.
2. Protect your children from the hazards of pressure treated wood in public parks and playground.
   • Make sure kids wash their hands after playing on playgrounds. Cover wood picnic tables with plastic-coated tablecloths or avoid using the tables--spread a blanket out in the grass instead. Food and drinking water should not have any contact with pressure treated wood.
3. Protect your children from the hazards of CCA-treated wood decks.
   • Block access to areas below treated decks so that children and animals cannot enter -- arsenic can leach out of treated wood and contaminate the soil underneath. Do not store any children's toys under decks, either. Put a sheet or blanket on treated decks for young children to play on. Replace wood in high traffic areas and hand rails with safer alternatives. Wipe feet on a doormat before going indoors from the deck, and wash children's hands after they spend time on the deck.
4. Seal any arsenic-treated wood in your yard every six months.
   • Sealing the surface of wood treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA) with paint or a polyurethane coating will reduce the amount of arsenic that can escape. However, such coatings don't trap arsenic for more than six months, according the Environmental Working Group. To be safe, apply sealants twice a year, especially in high traffic areas.
   • No definitive tests show that oil-based products seal better than water-based ones. Since water-based paints and sealants contain fewer toxic solvents, we recommend these. Exterior latex paint is another good choice since it will show wear and tear — and the need for a new coat.
5. Use caution when working with CCA-treated lumber.
   • Avoid sawing or sanding, which releases arsenic into the soil and air. If you must sand or saw, do so only outdoors with plenty of ventilation. DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO ENTER OR STAY IN THE AREA! Wear dust masks, gloves, and protective clothing to decrease exposure to sawdust and wash all work clothes separately before wearing them again.
6. Take gentle care of CCA-treated wood.
   • Don’t use acid washes and bleach or other oxidizing cleaners on CCA-treated wood, which can release arsenic and convert the chromium in CCA into a more toxic form, hexavalent chromium, the toxic pollutant that Erin Brockovich found to be tainting her town's drinking water.
7. Properly dispose of pressure treated wood.
   • Do not burn wood with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), as it will release the arsenic as smoke. Do not compost sawdust, chips or small wood scraps derived from treated wood. Treat CCA-treated wood as hazardous waste. Contact your local sanitation department for information on where to dispose of it.
8. Watch out for CCA-treated wood in the garden.
   • Some people have used pressure treated wood in the garden for raised beds and edging. The arsenic can leach into the soil to be absorbed by plants through their roots. Even old pressure treated wood can emit high levels of arsenic. Greens, such as mustard, kale and lettuce, are particulary good at taking up arsenic into their leaves.
   • Since arsenic remains on the soil's surface, tilling, turning and covering it with topsoil or mulch reduces risk. Some commercial mulches may contain CCA-treated wood, so request virgin mulch in stores. If you have wooden dividers in your garden, put a layer of plastic between the rails and the plants.
9. Replace CCA-treated wood, if possible.
   If you can't replace the entire structure, consider replacing parts that are frequently touched, such as handrails. Alternatives include:
   • Naturally rot-resistant domestic wood such as aromatic cedar, black locust, character or industrial grade cherry, osage orange or sassafras.
   • Borax, soda (sodium carbonate), potash, linseed oil and beeswax are safer, effective preservative treatments.
   • Natural resin-oil stains, varnishes and paints.
   • Recycled plastic lumber, salvaged redwood, or stone.
10. Plant a fern to remove arsenic from soil.
    • Researchers at the University of Florida found that one type of fern actually removes as much as 10-15 parts per million of arsenic from contaminated soil. This is a low-cost, effective way to get rid of arsenic in your yard or garden.

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