There is growing interest among consumer groups and public health officials about hazards associated with playgrounds built with CCA-pressure treated lumber. The current position of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is that these playgrounds are safe, however, there is a body of scientific evidence that suggests that children can be exposed to small amounts of arsenic while playing on the equipment. The pesticide Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is commonly used in pressure treated wood. It protects the wood from deterioration, thus prolonging the life of outdoor wood structures such as decks and children's play equipment. These recent studies have shown that rainwater leaches CCA from the treated wood, which could lead to contamination of the soil beneath the wood structure. Also, a pesticide residue can be left on the wood's surface and picked up on hands and clothing.

Through a community-wide effort, in the spring if 1990 the wood structure (Leathers Playground) was erected at Parma Town Hall Park. Since this date, the town has followed specific maintenance guidelines from the play structure manufacturer which included applying a wood sealant in accordance with the recommendations for maintenance of CCA treated wood. This has been a positive step as sealing the wood is recognized as the best way to minimize arsenic leaching.

The Parma Town Board decided to also contract with LU Engineers, a Civil and Environmental firm from Penfield, to perform a comprehensive arsenic sampling at the Town Park wood playground structure. This arsenic investigation involved the results of several test hole locations and swipe samplings which simulate hand-to-mouth exposure of arsenic by touching the pressure treated wood. The sample hole locations were positioned adjacent to the pressure treated vertical posts to best represent where storm water runoff would travel into the ground and all swipe samplings were conducted in accordance with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration method number ID-105. A composite sample was also taken one foot below grade in the lawn, approximately 40 feet west of the playground, which represents the site background level.

The conclusion of LU Engineers' comprehensive arsenic investigation shows that the levels of arsenic are far below any levels of concern and the surface and structure of the Leathers Playground does not pose a public threat, according to Parma Director of Recreation and Parks Steve Fowler.