Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and Its Use as a Wood Preservative

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Hot Topics SAP Report on CCA Risk Assessment

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is a chemical mixture consisting of three pesticidal compounds (arsenic, chromium, and copper) registered for wood preservative uses. EPA is currently reassessing CCA as part of its ongoing reregistration program for older pesticides. Federal law directs EPA to periodically reevaluate older pesticides to ensure that they continue to meet current safety standards. We have updated this Web site to reflect recent changes to the status of the registration for CCA.

CCA News:

Guidance Document for Revised CCA Label: Supplemental Guidance on Interpretation of Revised CCA Wood Preservative Label (165 KB, 16 pages, PDF) and Guidance for Uses of CCA Referencing AWPA Commodity Standards - June 16, 2004

Questions & Answers: Guidance Document for Revised CCA Label - June 17, 2004

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Compliance Strategy, (26 KB, 9 pages, PDF), Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), June 22, 2004.

Questions & Answers: Preliminary Risk Assessment for Workers Who Contact Wood Preservatives Containing Arsenic and/or Chromium and Ecological Effects Assessment - March 19, 2004

Federal Register: March 17, 2004 ( (Volume 69, Number 52), Notice of Availability of the Preliminary Risk Assessment for Wood Preservatives Containing Arsenic and/or Chromium Reregistration Eligibility Decision

Questions & Answers: Scientific Advisory Panel’s Final Report on Preliminary Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Chromated Copper Arsenate - February 12, 2004

Questions and Answers - Draft Preliminary Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Children Who Contact Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Playsets and Decks - and Press Advisory released November 13, 2003.

Federal Register: April 9, 2003, (Volume 68, Number 68), in Response to Requests to Cancel Certain Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Wood Preservative Products and Amendments to Terminate Certain Uses of other CCA Products

Cancellation of Residential Uses of CCA-Treated Wood Questions & Answers and a Press Advisory about this transition released on March 20, 2003.

EPA Testimony, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Public Meeting, regarding the Petition to Ban Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)-Treated Wood in Playground Equipment, March 17, 2003.

On March 17, 2003, CPSC held a public hearing to consider a petition to ban the sale of CCA-treated wood in playsets. CPSC also seeks public comments by publishing petitions in the Federal Register.

Federal Register: February 22, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 36), Notice of Receipt of Requests to Cancel Certain Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Wood Preservative Products and Amend to Terminate Certain Uses of CCA Products Products.

Manufacturers to Use New Wood Preservatives, Replacing Most Residential Uses of CCA-Treated Wood. A Questions and Answers document and a Press Release about this transition publicized on 2/12/2002.

On October 23-25, 2001, the Scientific Advisory Panel met to discuss issues pertaining to children's exposure from contact with CCA-treated wood playground structures and contaminated soil. From the results of this meeting, the Panel issued a final report announced in an Agency press release on 12/13/2001.

Pesticide Advisory Panel to Review Issues Pertaining to Children's Exposure to CCA-Treated Wood - 09/24/2001
Federal Register: September 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 182), FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel; Notice of Public Meeting

Public Input Sought Regarding CCA-Treated Wood Study Methods - 09/24/2001
Federal Register: September 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 183), Draft Sampling Protocols for Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Pressure-Treated Playground Equipment and Related Soil; Notice of Availability, Draft guidelines ("protocols") for sampling and analyzing chemical residues from chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated playground equipment released for public review and comment: Wood Protocol (311kb, PDF), Soil Protocol (123kb, PDF)

Stronger Consumer Information Program, Scientific Advisory Panel Meeting Announced for CCA-Treated Wood - 07/03/2001

EPA Comments on American Wood Preservers Institute (AWPI) Proposal - 06/29/2001 (245kb, PDF)

Public Meeting Held on Consumer Safe Handling Instructions for CCA-Treated Wood - 06/08/2001

Public Meeting Planned to Discuss CCA-Treated Wood - 05/31/2001

Stakeholders Discuss Consumer Safety Materials Available for CCA-Treated Wood - 05/10/2001

Consumer Resources:


Questions and Answers - Manufacturers to Use New Wood Preservatives, Replacing Most Residential Uses of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Provides answers to commonly asked questions about CCA, its uses, and potential hazards.

Updated!-- Questions & Answers - What You Need to Know About Wood Pressure Treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Provides updated answers to commonly asked questions about CCA, its uses and potential hazards.

Updated!-- Evaluating the Wood Preservative Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Describes EPA's comprehensive reassessment of the science and uses of CCA, along with some key issues under consideration.

Consumer Safety Information Sheet - Inorganic Arsenical Pressure-Treated Wood: Provides information on the safer use and handling of CCA-treated wood.

Related Links:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): ATSDR has established a series of summaries about hazardous substances, including arsenic. Each summary serves as a quick and easy-to-understand guide. Answers are provided to the most frequently asked questions about exposure to hazardous substances found around hazardous waste sites and the effects of exposure on human health.

National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC): NPIC, a cooperative effort of Oregon State University and EPA, provides objective, science-based information about a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects, which include the following: pesticide products, recognition and management of pesticide poisoning, toxicology, and environmental chemistry.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): CPSC is an independent Federal regulatory agency that works to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from consumer products. CPSC has jurisdiction over about 15,000 types of consumer products, from automatic-drip coffee makers to toys to lawn mowers. This site includes information on a petition from the Environmental Working Group and the Healthy Building Network to ban arsenic-treated wood in children's playground equipment.

U.S. EPA's Office of Water - Arsenic Assessment: The U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to revise the existing 50 parts per billion (ppb) standard for arsenic in drinking water. This site provides information on EPA's assessment of arsenic in drinking water.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries of Arsenic: The USGS serves the Nation as an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. This page provides information about arsenic as a commodity.

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