Arsenic (As) and CompoundsCAS 7440-38-2
Pre-2003 CCA pressure-treated wood is the major residential source — bladder, lung, and skin cancer.
Toxic Chemical Databases
Substance-specific listings — these flags are for Arsenic alone, not for the broader family.
Chemical Type
Metalloid — Group 1 Human Carcinogen
Chemical Description
Inorganic arsenic is IARC Group 1 — confirmed to cause cancer in humans, with skin, bladder, and lung cancer the best-established endpoints. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood was the standard residential deck and playset material until EPA voluntary phase-out in 2003. Pre-2003 decks, fences, and playground structures continue to leach arsenic into surrounding soil. Inorganic arsenic also occurs naturally in groundwater in much of the western U.S. and South Asia.
Biological Activity
Severity scores specific to this substance, NOT the parent family average. Differences between siblings are real and meaningful.
Top Health Consequences
- Bladder, lung, and skin cancer — IARC Group 1
- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension at low chronic doses
- Diabetes and metabolic effects
- Skin lesions (keratoses, hyperpigmentation)
- Cognitive deficits in early-life exposure
Pathways of Exposure
- Skin contact with pre-2003 CCA-treated wood (decks, playsets, raised beds)
- Drinking water from arsenic-contaminated aquifers
- Soil ingestion near pre-2003 treated structures
- Diet — rice and rice products accumulate arsenic from irrigation water
Building Materials with Arsenic
Listed alphabetically — product categories where this specific substance appears.
CCA Pressure-Treated Wood (Pre-2003)
Landscape Timbers (Legacy Treated)
Pole Barns & Agricultural Structures
Treated Deck Lumber (Pre-2003)