Increasing concerns over the use of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in playground structures arise from potential exposure to arsenic of children playing in these playgrounds. Limited data from previous studies analyzing arsenic levels in sand samples collected from CCA playgrounds are inconsistent and cannot be directly translated to the amount of children's exposure to arsenic. The objective of this study was to determine the quantitative amounts of arsenic on the hands of children in contact with CCA-treated wood structures or sand in playgrounds. We compared arsenic levels on the hands of 66 children playing in eight CCA playgrounds with levels of arsenic found on the hands of 64 children playing in another eight playgrounds not constructed with CCA-treated wood. The children's age and duration of playtime were recorded at each playground. After play, children's hands were washed in a bag containing 150 mL of deionized water. Arsenic levels in the hand-washing water were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our results show that the ages of the children sampled and the duration of play in the playgrounds were similar between the groups of CCA and non-CCA playgrounds. The mean amount of water-soluble arsenic on children's hands from CCA playgrounds was 0.50 µg (range, 0.0078-3.5 µg). This was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the mean amount of water-soluble arsenic on children's hands from non-CCA playgrounds, which was 0.095 µg (range, 0.011-0.41 µg). There was no significant difference in the amount of sand on the children's hands and the concentration of arsenic in the sand between the CCA and non-CCA groups. The higher values of arsenic on the hands of children playing in the CCA playgrounds are probably due to direct contact with CCA-treated wood. Washing hands after play would reduce the levels of potential exposure because most of the arsenic on children's hands was washed off with water. The maximum amount of arsenic on children's hands from the entire group of study participants was < 4 µg, which is lower than the average daily intake of arsenic from water and food. Key words: arsenic, CCA, children's exposure, chromated copper arsenate, playgrounds, treated wood. Environ Health Perspect 112:1375-1380 (2004). [Online 17 June 2004]

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Address correspondence to X.C. Le, Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3. Telephone: (780) 492-6416. Fax: (780) 492-7800. E-mail: xc.le@ualberta.ca

We thank P. Cardinal, D. Ehrman, C. Englot, D. Kirchner, R. Zolkiewski, W. Ma, and K. Carastathis for their contribution to this study; EnviroTest Laboratories (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) for performing the analysis of arsenic in soil samples; and the participating children and their parents for their cooperation.

This study was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Alberta Health and Wellness, Capital Health, the City of Edmonton, and Environment Canada.

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Received 21 April 2004; accepted 17 June 2004.