I wanted to share this wonderful article for those of you that have older children. Enjoy!!
Your Kids at ‘Healthy” Play
March, the month when adults and children start getting spring fever. Here in America we want March to be over so that April can come in and fill our hearts with warmth and sun- hence the saying, “March- in like a lion, out like a lamb.” Our winter depression lifts, projects around the house seem ‘doable,’ your kids and husband or wife don’t seem as annoying-after being locked in all winter with them, and you feel as though you suddenly have more energy. Well, at least it seems your kids do! And they will be outside, as soon as possible, playing on their swing set and playground.
Are you sure that the playground or swing set in your backyard is a healthy place for your children to play? Why shouldn’t it be, right? Well it seems as though many of the wooden swing sets that you can buy are treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). They use this compound, essentially arsenic, to help preserve the wood of these playgrounds so they will resist weathering. And you wont just find this preservative in your kid’s playground but in the wood of your deck, picnic tables, and possibly the borders of your garden! In 1995 alone, approximately 500 million cubic feet of CCA treated lumber was sold in the US.
In liquid form, CCA is a pesticide that is considered toxic to humans. This arsenic can pose severe health risks to adults, but especially children. Some of these health risks include; lung, bladder and skin cancers, lower levels of exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, and decreased production of white and red blood cells. Children have a higher risk of health problems, when in contact with this carcinogen, because they frequently have hand to mouth contact and thinner skin.
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research organization, has stated that an average health 5 year old playing less then two weeks on a CCA treated wood playground can exceed the lifetime cancer risk for arsenic. Other studies have shown that the soil around the wood that touches the ground has arsenic levels that are 10 times higher than the safety standards of soil.
CCA also poses a threat to pets and wildlife that are roaming around the arsenic ridden soil. Even if you take down the CCA treated playground, your soil can hold significant amounts of arsenic, possibly for a few years. If there is a water area near by a playground or where one used to be, the water may also be contaminated.
But there is hope! There always is. Many companies offer environmentally safe alternatives that use playground building materials such as; rot-resistant cedar or redwood, recycled plastic, and metal or composite materials (composite materials have become very popular to use for decks).
If you decide to reinvest in a healthier playground for your kids, then remove the old CCA preserved playground with gloves and handle it as a hazardous waste. Do not burn the set or saw, sand and reuse it for another project. Do not leave it in your garage until garbage day, either take it to the local waste management office or leave it on a cemented area until the garbage comes.
If you don’t have the money to buy a new and healthier playground, to replace the old one that more than likely has CCA as a preservative, then there is an alternative. The Children’s Environmental Health Network recommends that you apply a water-based sealant or latex paint to the playground, every Spring, to provide a barrier between your child and the carcinogen. And consider changing parts of the set, such as handrails, that are frequently handled by your child.
Regarding soil contamination, there are several kits that are sold that will test arsenic levels in the soil. Try your local hardware store for testing kits or use this link and buy a kit online: http://www.ewg.org/reports/poisonwoodrivals/orderform.php .
Below is a list of companies that offer playground alternatives to CCA treated wood sets. Please note that these alternatives are more expensive than the unhealthy option, but isn’t everything when you are trying to be healthier!
This company is wonderful. You will be jealous you are not a kid after seeing this site!
Cedarworks Play Sets
Chemical free, rot-resistant white cedar
www.cedarworks.com
800-Go-Cedar
This company even gives you the amount of, let’s say, milk jugs that were recycled to make the set! So much fun.
PlayMArk Playgrounds
Recycled plastic
www.playmart.com
800-437-5297
There are many reports on the internet that debunk this idea that arsenic treated wood for playgrounds, decks, and other outdoor products is not strong enough, even over time, to get anyone sick. So why are most manufacturers of outdoor wood products no longer using CCA to preserve the wood? I think the best thing to do is test the soil for higher arsenic levels around the playground and also in another part of the yard that wouldn’t be contaminated. Then you will have your answer.
Article by Tina LeMar
www.yogabean.netYOGA BEAN MAGAZINE
