❓ The WA government is awaiting the APVMA's final report on copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated timber before taking action regarding its use in school playgrounds. The APVMA's draft review suggests existing structures are not unsafe, aligning with health risk assessments.
AnsweredQoN 2034Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(b) for school playground uses?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
23 days
1) (a) & (b) The process that is occurring in relation to copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated timber is as follows. The Commonwealth Authority responsible for registration of pesticide products, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), is reviewing CCA chemical products used in treating timber. The APVMA released a draft of its review in December of last year for public comment. The APVMA has not yet released the final report, but it is expected to be released this year. In the final report the APVMA will be publishing the actions it will be taking in relation to CCA chemical products. These actions fall under Commonwealth jurisdiction and as such if a ban or phase out is proposed it will be done under Commonwealth legislation across Australia. Therefore Western Australia will wait for the APVMA to finalise its review and see what actions the Commonwealth will be taking in relation to this matter.
2) Yes. This recommendation was contained in the draft review and as this is an issue of national registration, the APVMA will release its final recommendations in due course.
3) Yes.
4) No.
5) There has been no correspondence.
6) Yes. The APVMA in their draft review have stated that “…the Authority does not have evidence to conclude that the existing structures are unsafe”. The APVMA is liaising closely with the US EPA in relation to the US EPA’s assessment of this particular issue. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has undertaken a health risk assessment that indicated that a child’s intake of arsenic from playgrounds combined with background arsenic would be well below health standards (tolerable daily intakes) set by the World Health Organisation and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.
2) Yes. This recommendation was contained in the draft review and as this is an issue of national registration, the APVMA will release its final recommendations in due course.
3) Yes.
4) No.
5) There has been no correspondence.
6) Yes. The APVMA in their draft review have stated that “…the Authority does not have evidence to conclude that the existing structures are unsafe”. The APVMA is liaising closely with the US EPA in relation to the US EPA’s assessment of this particular issue. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has undertaken a health risk assessment that indicated that a child’s intake of arsenic from playgrounds combined with background arsenic would be well below health standards (tolerable daily intakes) set by the World Health Organisation and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.
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