BY CHRISTINA HALL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Livonia has temporarily closed the Beverly Park play structure because arsenic was detected in the soil near the playscape and in test borings of the wood of the structure.
Fencing was erected around the playscape today. Test results from about 8-10 feet outside the playscape area do not show elevated levels of arsenic, so the rest of the park is open, according to news release.
Arsenic was used as a preservative in the pressure-treated wood at the playscape, which was built in 1993 as a community project. A year later, it was donated to the city, which took over maintenance in 2001. The structure has been sealed by city workers every two years since 2002, according to the release.
The city recently hired an environmental testing consulting firm to test the playscape and area nearby based on a recommendation from a citizens committee looking at the future use of the playscape. The firm, Testing Engineers & Consultants Inc. in Troy, indicated the levels of arsenic exceed standards for safe direct contact.
The city plans to hire an environmental consultant to help determine a plan to remediate the site.
From Environmental Risk Managers: CCA (Chromate Copper Arsenate) treated lumber was voluntarily removed from the market a few years ago but may still be used in some commercial applications. I have heard guesstimates that it will take 20 years for us to cycle through the CCA treated lumber currently in use.
From playgrounds to decks, docks, play houses…. the contaminates are leaching out of the wood and causing environmental problems. Make sure to handle and dispose of CCA treated lumber properly. You want to make sure it does not get into compost material because that only exacerbates the extent of the problem.
For contractors make sure they dispose of the wood in an approved lined landfill or if incineration is possible with a facility that can remove the contaminants and capture them so they are not released into the environment.
Being proactive is the best way to address the growing problem of cycling through CCA treated lumber.