Hello Blucken-ga,
Nice to see you back here again and as always, thanks for an
interesting question.
As you are no doubt aware, the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)
as preservative for pressure-treating wood is being severely curtailed
in the US and in many other countries around the world.
In March of 2003, the USEPA announced a voluntary agreement with the
companies that make CCA to end its use for virtually all residential
applications. Although the use of CCA-wood in playground equipment
received, perhaps, the greatest amount of public concern and
attention, it is actually a minor use of CCA-wood. The chief use of
CCA-wood has been as lumber to build decks.
The phase-out of CCA for home uses has actually been in progress for
years, as consumer concerns forced industry actions even prior to
EPA’s announcement in March 2003. A number of alternatives to CCA are
available, in three main categories:
--naturally pest-resistant woods such as cedar
--alternative chemical treatments, such as the class of chemicals
known as ACQ’s
--alternative materials, such as plastics, composites, etc.
The overall market for CCA-wood products, and the impacts of the
phase-out for residential uses are discussed in a fair amount of
detail in a number of government, industry and organization documents.
I have identified the main documents below, and excerpted the most
relevant materials.
I believe these will provide you with the type of perspective you were
seeking. However, if anything here is unclear, or if you would like
additional information, jsut let me know by posting a Request for
Clarification. I’ll be happy to assist further as best I can.
pafalafa-ga
search strategy: Google searches on:
CCA pressure-treated
CCA “economic impact”
CCA assessment site:.gov
CCA Home Depot
---------------------
EPA’s announcement earlier this year of the CCA-treated wood phase out
can be seen here:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/b1ab9f485b098972852562e7004dc686/36d23f8c9ec5506a85256cef0059483f?OpenDocument
MARCH 20, 2003
EPA FINALIZES VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION OF VIRTUALLY
ALL RESIDENTIAL USES OF CCA-TREATED WOOD
On March 17, EPA granted the voluntary cancellation and use
termination requests affecting virtually all residential uses of
chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Under this action,
affected CCA products cannot be used after Dec. 30, 2003 to treat
lumber intended for use in most residential settings. This transition
affects virtually all residential uses of wood treated with CCA,
including play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers,
residential fencing, patios and walkways/boardwalks.
...Consumers may continue to buy and use the treated CCA wood for as
long as it is available. The transition to using the new generation
treatment products is well underway.
...The Agency is deferring any action on two uses involved in the
termination requests, therefore wood used in permanent wood
foundations and fence posts for agricultural uses may continue to be
treated with CCA at this time.
--------------
EPA provided additional information that should be of interest to you
on a CCA information page at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/1file.htm
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and Its Use as a Wood Preservative
The site includes several dozen links to CCA-related documents,
including this Q&A page at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/residential_use_cancellation.htm
Among the most relevant items to your question are:
4. How is CCA used?
...CCA-treated wood is most commonly used in outdoor settings. Around
the home, CCA-treated wood is commonly used for decks, walkways,
fences, gazebos, boat docks, and playground equipment. Other common
uses of CCA-treated wood include highway noise barriers, sign posts,
utility posts, and retaining walls....
11. Are there alternatives for the terminated uses of CCA?
There are a number of non-arsenic containing preservatives that have
been registered by EPA to pressure-treat wood for consumer
applications (e.g., ammoniacal copper quat, ACQ, and copper boron
azole, CBA). Some wood treated with these preservatives is already
available at retail outlets such as home improvement stores. In
addition, playground equipment made of other non-arsenic containing
components is also available (e.g., woods such as cedar and redwood
and non-wood alternatives such as metals and plastics). Consumers may
also wish to consider the new generation wood preservative products,
such as ACQ and CBA. During reregistration review, EPA will determine
the availability of alternatives to the remaining uses of CCA.
12. What is the status of allowing the continued use of CCA to treat
agricultural fence posts, and permanent wood foundations?
In light of comments received, EPA is deferring any action with
respect to requests to terminate CCA use on agricultural fence posts
and also on permanent wood foundations at this time. Fence posts for
agricultural uses may continue to be treated with CCA...[however]
fence posts intended for residential fencing in accordance with the C5
standard cannot be treated with CCA after December 30, 2003.
----------------------
The actual Federal Register notice of the CCA cancellation is at:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/April/Day-09/p8372.htm
Response to Requests to Cancel Certain Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)
Wood Preservative Products and Amendments to Terminate Certain Uses of
other CCA Products
[Federal Register: April 9, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 68)]
and it identifies the manufacturers of CCA who have been involved in
the voluntary cancellation agreement:
Table 1.--Registrants Requesting Voluntary Termination of Certain
Uses and/or Cancellation...
Osmose, Inc.
980 Ellicott Street
Buffalo, NY 14209
Chemical Specialties. Inc.
One Woodlawn Green
Suite 250
200 E. Woodlawn Road
Charlotte, NC 28217
Phibro-Tech, Inc.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Arch Wood Protection, Inc.
1955 Lake Park Drive
Suite 250,
Smyrna, GA 30080
-------------
The same Federal Register notice also made brief note of comments
received by EPA regarding the likely economic impact to a particular
Texas company and town:
The residents of Corpus Christi have within their city limits a plant
owned by Elementis Chromium L.P. (Elementis), the only major
manufacturer of chromic acid in the United States.
-------------------------
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has also actively been
looking into potential threats into exposure from CCA treated wood,
and in the course of its investigations, has conducted fairly
extensive economic analysis of the industry.
The summary report of the CPSC analysis can be seen here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia03/brief/cca0.pdf
and the economic analysis begins on pg 26. I’ve summarized some of
the key economic findings below:
-- several playground equipment manufacturers ceased using CCA treated
wood years ago
--7 billion board feet of pressure-treated wood are produced each year
in the US...the largest use of this if for outdoor decks.
--32% of CCA treated wood is used for outdoor decks
--other major uses: landscaping, marine applications, house framing,
permanent wood foundations, fencing.
--Only 1% of CCA-treated wood is used in playground equipment
--1997 economic census counted 27 manufacturers of home playground
equipment and 38 manufacturers of public/commercial/institutional
equipment (only those with shipments or $100,000 or more are counted).
--CCA manufacturers report an expected decline of CCA-wood for
residential use of 25% in 2002 and 70% in 2003.
--non-arsenical alternatives to CCA treatment are expected to cost 3
to 5 times more than CCA, increasing cost of treated lumber by 10-20%
--shift to redwood or cedar expected to be small due to the
significant added expense.
-----------------------
A fuller version of the CPSC economic analysis can be seen here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia03/brief/cca6.pdf
and Table 2 of the report provides a detailed breakout of use of
CCA-wood:
Uses of CCA-Treated Lumber
Outdoor Decks..............32%
Marine Applications........16
Landscaping................12
(includes playground equip, which is about 1%)
Highway Materials...........9
Fencing.....................8
House Framing...............6
Utility Poles...............5
Permanent Wood Foundations..1
Pilings.....................1
Other.......................8
Export......................2
-----------------------------------
An industry group, the Southern Pine Council, has tracked the CCA
issue closely. An informative report can be found here:
www.southernpine.com/treatedwoodtransition.htm
TREATED WOOD INDUSTRY IN TRANSITION
and includes an extensive list of mostly non-residential products for
which CCA-wood can still be used even after the December 31, 2003
phase out. I’ve listed key categories below, but I suggest consulting
the full document to see the complete list:
PRODUCTS THAT MAY CONTINUE TO BE TREATED WITH CCA
AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2003
After December 31, 2003, the effective date of the new labeling, CCA
may be used to treat only wood and forest products falling under the
AWPA Commodity Standards set forth on the label. The following list is
taken from the 2001 edition of the AWPA standards to illustrate
examples of the types of wood that fall within each standard. While
the list is not exhaustive, it does provide some examples of specific
uses within each AWPA commodity standards that may be treated with
CCA.
Lumber and Timber for Salt Water Use Only (AWPA Standard C2)
Piles (AWPA Standard C3)
Poles (AWPA Standard C4)
Wood for Highway Construction (AWPA Standard C14)
Poles, Piles and Posts Used as Structural Members on Farms, and
Plywood Used on Farms (AWPA Standard C16)
Wood for Marine Construction (AWPA Standard C18)
Lumber and Plywood For Permanent Wood Foundations (AWPA Standard C22)
Round Poles and Posts Used in Building Construction (AWPA Standard
C23)
Sawn Timber Used to Support Residential and Commercial Structures
(AWPA Standard C24)
Sawn Crossarms (AWPA Standard C25)
Structural Glued-Laminated Members and Laminations before Gluing (AWPA
Standard C28)
Structural Composite Lumber (AWPA Standard C33)
Shakes and Shingles (AWPA Standard C34)
-----
Another Southern Pine Council document compares the characteristics of
the major chemical alternatives to CCA – I’ve listed the products
here, but again, suggest you consult the full document:
http://www.southernpine.com/treatedwoodtransition2.htm#newgeneration
Comparing Alternative Wood Preservatives
Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)
Preserve®
Preserve Plus® (built-in water repellent)
Nature Wood®
Nature Wood® with water repellent
---
Copper Azole (CBA)
Wolmanized® Natural Select™
Wolmanized® Natural Select™ with water repellent
---
Sodium Borates (SBX)
Advance Guard®
SillBor™
TimberSaver PT
-----
And again from SPC, some perspectives from different industry segments
affected by the CCA phase out:
http://www.southernpine.com/treatedwoodtransition3.htm#uses
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES - What does the transition mean to the industry?
PRESERVATIVE MANUFACTURER
The decisions resulting in the EPA-announced transition to CCA
alternatives allow for an orderly movement to the 'next generation'
preservatives. This movement was already underway; the December 31,
2003 deadline gives everyone time to plan intelligently for their own
transition. Consumers will be able to continue taking advantage of the
benefits of preserved wood, a product that has provided effective,
safe, environmentally responsible service for decades.
Huck DeVenzio, Arch Wood Protection, Inc.
TREATER
The move from CCA-treated wood products to alternative preservatives
such as ACQ and Copper Azole is an exciting adventure that opens the
door to many new opportunities in the near future. If we plan to reach
our goals, then we must face the challenges, accept change, and
position ourselves for success in the treated wood industry.
Joe Elder, Elder Wood Preserving Company, Inc.
RETAILER
At this early stage, we've not yet decided when to sell the
alternative products. Initially, we will double-stock both CCA and the
alternative treatments. The customer base needs to be educated. We've
had no questions from customers about the alternative treatments, or
changes in the uses for treated wood.
Tom Bartholomew, Poole Lumber Company
------------------
Several major lumber-selling outlets had made the decision some time
ago to discontinue selling CCA products for residential use:
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/14552/newsDate/15-Feb-2002/story.htm
Home Depot, Lowe's to stop selling arsenic-treated wood
February 15, 2002
ATLANTA - Home-improvement retailers said this week they would stop
selling wood treated with an arsenic-based pesticide that is widely
used for home decks and fences.
Home Depot Inc. and Lowe's Cos., the largest U.S. home-improvement
retailers, said they would phase out the sale of wood treated with
chromated copper arsenate, which contains the carcinogen arsenic.
-------------------
Perhaps to no-one’s surprise, the issue has begun to spawn lawsuits:
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2003/07/21/story7.html
Home Depot faces class-action suit
Austin Business Journal
Two Austinites have brought a class-action lawsuit against
Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc., claiming it sold potentially toxic wood
that's used to build decks and playgrounds.
-----
But the earliest suits do not appear to have gained much momentum:
http://www.woodpreservativescience.org/docs/homechannel.pdf
CCA-treated wood lawsuit dismissed
West Palm Beach, Fla. - July 23 - A federal judge here has ruled that
Home Depot cannot be held responsible for replacing lumber treated
with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). The July 15 ruling, issued in
the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, denied class action
status to the complaint.
The case was originally filed by a group of Florida homeowners who own
wood decks or playground equipment made of CCA-treated lumber.
---------------
And lastly, this site below, belonging to the anti-CCA organization
known as BANCCA, is chock full of links to further information about
the entire issue:
http://www.bancca.org/CCA_References/CCA_References.htm
CCA References/Links
----------------
Again, I hope this is the information you need, but if anything
requires elaboration, just let me know and I’ll be glad to assist you
further. |
