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By Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.

Still using steel banding?

tion and-ultimately-reassessment. I refer to this pattern as "the public health fear factor" and the recent conclusions of a panel of experts commissioned to study possible health effects resulting from exposure to treated wood in playgrounds lead me to believe that this phenomenon has occurred once again.

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The public health fear factor generally is initiated when the media rush ahead of science and established evidence to hurriedly report that exposure to an everyday product could result in dire health effects. In this case, the media have put the focus on wood treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), a preservative used safely for nearly 70 years to keep structures sturdy and safe from insects and the elements. This wood is commonly used in a variety of applications with which we are all familiardecks, fencing, and playground structures. It's the latter application that has created the recent fuss, which erupted first in Florida and then grew nationwide.

Although it's been common knowledge for more than a half-century, the media and trial lawyers are seizing upon the fact that one of the ingredients that goes into CCA is arsenic-an admittedly toxic substance whose reputation has been romanticized in countless murder mysteries.

The arsenic works with other chemicals in the wood to persuade termites and other insects that this wood in not good to eat.

While no responsible scientist would ever suggest that arsenic is completely harmless, it's imperative in matters of science that judgments be based on research and evidence. That's why the Florida Department of Health correctly responded to a wave of media reports on the potential dangers of CCA-treated playground equipment in Florida by commissioning an expert panel, the "Physicians Arsenic Work Group," to evaluate the risk associated with its use.

This group recently finished its assessment and concluded that the data "have not demonstrated any clinical disease associated with arsenic exposure from the use of the CCA-treated wood." The panel went on to state that "CCA-treated wood has never been linked to skin diseases or cancer in children exposed during recreational use...[which] would be expected after 30+ years of use if toxic levels of arsenic were leaching from the wood."

It also is worth noting that the physicians' group "agrees with and supports the United States Environmental Protection Agency's directive that "EPA does not recommend thit consumers replace or remove existing structures made with CCA-treated wood or the soil surrounding those structures."

Although both the federal EPA and Florida's Physicians Arsenic Work Group have reaffirmed the safety of CCAtreated wood, the wood industry has initiated a voluntary phase-out of the product. This decision was reached because the treated-wood industry has developed alternative products that are not arsenic-based but still provide the preserving qualities of CCA. Nevertheless, at least a dozen playgrounds have been needlessly torn down coast to coast, and a number of baseless lawsuits have been filed.

Today, my message to parents who are worried and are considering keeping their children off of public playgrounds is simply this: relax, the evidence is that your children are safe. I am, however, concerned about a bigger issue, which is the tendency in our society to devote tremendous attention and resources to phantom risks, based on an anecdote or media report.

The far greater risk to our children is allowing them to be sedentary and spend their free hours in front of a television screen instead of in the playground. By some estimates, one-third of our children and adolescents are overweight. Obese children grow up to be obese adults. In turn, this is associated with increased risks of diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Parents and communities must focus on the real issues affecting our children's health. For instance, the number one killer of America's children is unintentional injury. We can dramatically reduce these risks by taking simple steps like properly using child car seats and keeping firearms secure. That's where we need to focus our energy and our resources to protect our children in measurable ways.

The parental instinct to protect our children is a precious and community-strengthening commodity. Parents and others responsible for the health and safety of children should be constantly vigilant. But, when it comes ro matters of science, be wary of hype, error and incomplete information.

That's the best way to overcome the public health fear factor.

Louis W. Sullivan, M.D, president emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine, served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the first Bush Administration, I 989- I 993.

Depot Tests Heavy Duty Rentals

Houston, Tx., is the next test market targeted by Home Depot for expanding its rental program to heavy equipment.

In mid-September, Depot launched a pilot program at six stores in the Las Vegas, Nv., area. The stores' rental centers began offering bobcats, scissors lifts, dirt rollers, and other construction equipment.

Eventually, they will carry over 50 products, including mini-excavators, light towers, towable compressors, and skidsteers.

The Las Vegas trial is expected to be expanded to stores in the Houston and Chicago, Il., areas by the end of the year.

The chain currently operates tool rental centers in more than a third ofits nearly 1,500 stores.

By 2005, Depot expects rental centers in 807o of its home centers.

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