Treated pine

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Hi AllBanned: the pine in garden furnitureDate: March 16 2005By Nicholls and Harriet Treated pine in children's play equipment, garden furniture, picnic tables and decking will be banned in Australia after research found that a chemicalin the wood was linked to an increased risk of childhood cancer.The chemical regulator is also advising those who own items made with treated pine to coat them with a penetrating sealant or prevent children getting accessto them.The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority yesterday delivered the final report on copper chrome arsenate (CCA), the arsenic-based chemicalused in treated pine products to prevent rotting. Loschke, the authority's principal scientist, said he "could not be satisfied that there wasn't a health risk for people, particularly children whohad frequent and close exposure to treated timber products such as decks, garden furniture and playground structures".The authority said the chemical would be phased out for use in picnic tables, exterior seating, play equipment, patio and domestic decking and handrailsby April next year. All timber treated with CCA will have to be clearly identified under strict new labelling requirements.The authority will help councils, schools and child-care centres decide what to do with existing treated pine structures under their control, particularlyplay equipment. However, it has stopped short of advising the structures be dismantled, saying it is not its job to do so.The authority was particularly concerned with children aged between three and five who frequently put their fingers in their mouths after touching treatedtimber. In 2003 a US study found frequent exposure to CCA-treated play equipment greatly increased a child's risk of developing bladder and lung cancer.This, and the Herald's revelations about council concerns, prompted the Australian review.A spokesman for the Timber Preservers Association of Australia, Harry Greaves, said the industry was "reasonably sup-portive" of the recommendations butbelieved the authority was being overly cautious."The industry will support the restrictions because we think it's churlish to resist, but we don't think there's any scientific evidence for them," he said.Australia is the world's third largest producer of treated pine products.Toxic timber* Parents of children under six are advised to coat any treated pine on their property with penetrating sealant - or block access altogether.* Under no circumstances should timber treated with copper chrome arsenate be burnt in a barbeque, heater or incinerator.* It should be taken to a waste centre authorised to receive it - normally a local tip.

TerriLynne PomeroyStudent AdvisorBlind and Visually Impaired Students of Utahhttp://www.bvisu.org/