It’s official: In February, after a
series of meetings between the
EPA and the three U.S. manufacturers
of CCA preservatives, the federal
environmental agency announced
that all three will voluntarily phase
out the arsenic-based preservatives.
Wood treaters will begin converting
existing plants to a new generation
of much less toxic chemicals, and
after December 31, 2003, CCAtreated
lumber will be off limits for
most nonindustrial uses. It will still
be approved for utility poles,
marine timbers and pilings, highway
construction, and possibly
some limited residential use, such
as in plywood roof decking.
No unreasonable risk. Although
CCA-treated lumber has been in
widespread use for more than half a
century, for the past few years it has
come under close scrutiny as a
potential