Pressure-Treated Wood

Chemically treated lumber for decks, raised beds and play sets.

51Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapSeal it, or use untreated cedar or composite for garden and play surfaces

How this score is built

100Start
77Chemical hazard 5 × 4.6−23
66.8Everyday exposure 3 × 3.4−10.2
51Persistence 6 × 2.6−15.6, then rounded to 51
ModerateThe band51 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	5/10	unsourced input
Everyday exposure	3/10	A review estimated that children with realistic contact with CCA-treated decks and playground structures may take in arsenic doses of tens of micrograms per day, mainly by ingesting arsenic dislodged onto their hands; the estimates carry considerable uncertainty. Children's exposure to arsenic from CCA-treated wooden decks and playground structures · Risk Anal 2004 DOI 10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00411.x · PMID 15028000 · Abstract · read 2026-10-12
Persistence	6/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

Older pressure-treated wood used arsenic-based preservative; newer types use copper compounds that can still leach. Sealing the wood or choosing untreated material limits skin and soil contact.

Evidence strength: moderate

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Lower-exposure choices

Vinegar & Baking Soda CleaningMinimal · Home

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