world news - 25.11.2002
New Zealand: Timber industry rejects arsenic report
The Timber Industry Federation has rejected research published today which claimed to show arsenic-treated timber could increase the risk of cancer in infants by more than 500 per cent.
The Dominion Post newspaper reported today that a study by American scientist Rick Maas of the University of North Carolina concluded that regular direct contact with timber treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA) was "a national health priority".
It said the CCA pesticide mixture used to treat timber for use outdoors was so potent that if it was used in an 8m deck, a baby crawling back and forth on the deck twice a week for a year had a one in 180 lifetime risk of cancer.
The accepted risk set down by American federal authorities concerning arsenic for an infant is one in 1000.
The report concluded the use of CCA-treated timber was a "national health priority" and should not be used where humans could come into contact with it.
Dr Maas' report was presented to the United States Environmental Protection Agency on February 12 this year. The agency announced a ban and a two year phase-out of CCA-treated timber two days later.
However, Wayne Coffey, the executive director of the New Zealand Timber Industry Federation, rejected the research.
"What it (the newspaper) has not told the public is that the overwhelming weight of credible scientific opinion in the US completely contradicts the Dominion Post sources," he said.
That scientific opinion could be found on the internet, Mr Coffey said.
"Nor has the newspaper bothered to give any prominence to the views of the acknowledged Australasian experts in timber preservation: Dr Mick Hedley (Forest Research, New Zealand) Dr Harry Greaves (formerly CSIRO, Australia).
"These scientists have no hesitation in declaring that, correctly handled, CCA treated timber is a safe product."
Research commissioned by the Dominion Post earlier this month showed arsenic was leaching from treated timber equipment in children's playgrounds at levels up to 10 times above government guidelines.
The Ministry of Health said today it was examining Dr Maas' report.
A ministry spokeswoman said the report would be referred to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Building Industry Authority (BIA).
Greens health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said that was a "woefully inadequate" response.
"Instead of foot-dragging and passing the buck the Health Ministry must take leadership. It is, after all, responsible for protecting New Zealanders from public health risks," she said.
Ms Kedgley called for the Government to immediately ban CCA-treated timber from playgrounds.
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See also:
- — Critics of Forestry lashed by Rolley
- — USA: imports of furniture will rise, analyst says
- — U.S.-Canadian timber deal sought
- — Sting's forest lobby attacks 'green' timber trade
- — Environmentalists, unions challenge B.C. raw log export program