Studies abound in the literature that established leaching of arsenic, a known human carcinogen, from lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate or CCA, a wooden preservative whose use has been banned by the EPA for residential applications almost a decade ago. However, existing CCA-treated wooden structures still present a danger of arsenic exposure to those who come in contact with them, such as from hand-to-mouth contact and accidental soil ingestion by small children. A 2007 study established that the soil of a local playground was contaminated with levels of arsenic above the Massachusetts DEP action level. The goal of this study is to thoroughly investigate the extent of the arsenic contamination in the same study site. We will focus on pebble cover that was not included in the 2007 study and the soil underneath the pebbles to determine if the arsenic is trapped on the pebbles or if it seeps through into the soil. After collecting pebble and soil samples manually, the pebble material will be washed with deionized water. The washing will then be preserved with dilute HNO3, digested in acid, and analyzed for arsenic content using a graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) spectrometer. Our data from the pebble washing will be compared to the levels of arsenic in the soil samples from a separate study within our research group. This research is supported by the Bridgewater State University Adrian Tinsley Program.

Are pebble materials trapping arsenic from deteriorating wooden play structures: Leaching of chromated copper arsenate into pebbles and soil

247th National Meeting (2014)

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