Some Relative Lifetime Risks
Including using CCA-treated timber for decks, handrails, and playgrounds
Compiled from US data by Dr Harry Greaves, Wood Products Consultant
| Activity | Risk Estimate |
| Risk of cancer from 1 light beer a day for 1 year | 1 in 50,000 |
| Risk of being struck by lightning | 1 in 10,000 |
| Risk of death from accidents in the home in 1 year | 1 in 10,000 |
| Risk of cancer from eating a peanut butter sandwich per day for 1 year | 1 in 100,000 |
| Risk of cancer death from smoking 1 pack/day for 30 years | 1 in 10,000 |
| Risk of death from an accident during 50 years of driving | 1 in 100 |
| Risk of dying from cancer | 1 in 4 |
| Risk of drowning for children under 5 years old | 1 in 105,000 |
| Estimated lifetime cancer risk from As at 3ppm in soil under playgrounds – Florida DEP (in Paling) | 1 in 105,000 |
| Risk of skin cancer from playing in soil under decks – Teaf and Solo-Gabriele (in Paling) | 1 in 1,000,000 |
| Lifetime cancer risk from airborne As emissions from a treatment plant | 1 in 2,000,000 |
| Lifetime bladder or lung cancer risk from daily intake of drinking water containing 3µg/L As – National Research Council | 1 in 1000 |
| Lifetime risk of cancer for a baby crawling on a deck - Maas | 1 in 850 |
| Lifetime bladder cancer risk from a playground – US CPSC | 1 in 10,000 |
| Lifetime lung cancer risk from a playground – US CPSC | 1 in 500,000 |
| Lifetime risk of cancer for an adult using a handrail – Maas | 1 in 1275 |
| Risk of death from cancer from 5 years exposure to soil containing 25ppm As beneath playgrounds equipment – Teaf (in Paling) | 1 in 1,000,000 |
| Risk of injury requiring emergency room treatment to a child playing on playground equipment over a 5 year period | 1 in 250 |
| Risk of death from injury on playground equipment over a 5 year period | 1 in 3,000,000 |
| Risk of lung cancer from occupational exposure to CCA-treated timber wood dust, EU workers | 4-6 in 10,000 |
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Sources:
Paling, J. (2001). Appraisal of Various Safety and Risk Issues Relating to Wood Treated with CCA, Creosote, and Pentachlorophenol as Currently used by Residential Consumers in the U.S. AWPI/Hopping Green Sams Smith. Jan 2001, 23 pp.
Maas R.P et al. (2002) Release of Total Chromium, Chromium VI and Total Arsenic from New and Aged Pressure Treated Lumber. UNC-A, EQI Tech. Report No. 02-093.
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (2003). Briefing package. Petition to ban chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood in playground equipment. Petition HP 01-3 US CPSC February 2003.
National Research Council. (1999). Arsenic in drinking water. National Academy Press. 1999.
WS Atkins International (1998). Assessments of the risks to health and to the environment of arsenic in wood preservatives and of the effects of further restrictions on its marketing and use. WS Atkins International Ltd., Epsom, Surrey April 1998.