Bill Nelson: “The Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that arsenic…”

“The Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that arsenic is a known carcinogen, and the Environmental Protection Agency has classified chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which is 22 percent arsenic, as a ``restricted use chemical. (2) CCA is often used as a preservative in pressure-treated wood, and CCA-treated wood is widely used in constructing playground equipment frequented by children. (3) In 2001, many communities in Florida and elsewhere have temporarily or permanently closed playgrounds in response to elevated levels of arsenic in soil surrounding CCA-treated wood playground equipment. (4) The State of Florida recently announced that its own wood-treatment plant would cease using arsenic as a preservative. (5) PlayNation Play Systems, which manufactures playground equipment, announced in June 2001 that it would no longer use CCA as a preservative in its playground products. (6) In May 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would expedite its ongoing review of the health risks facing children playing near CCA-treated wood playground equipment, and produce its findings in June 2001.”