Information to Harness Trainers – CCA timber as a source of Arsenic
Warning to Trainers – CCA-treated Timber and Horses
Trainers are advised to be extremely cautious allowing horses access to/administering products that contain arsenic close to racing as this may inadvertently lead to a rise in urinary arsenic levels. Access includes the ability to lick, chew and ingest arsenic treated timber that may be in the horse’s environment including the stable/paddock/yard construct. Horse’s that are known to regularly ‘wood chew’ are advised to be kept in stables/fields with fences made from substances other than arsenic-treated timber.
An inorganic form of arsenic is used as an insecticide in the timber treatment chromated copper arsenate (CCA). CCA has been used to treat wood for many decades. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic arsenic and can affect the skin, and respiratory, immune, urinary, reproductive, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of mammals.
The presence of arsenic above a concentration of 0.30 micrograms per millilitre (µg/mL) in a raceday equine urine sample is a prohibited substance.
Other products that contain arsenic include, but are not limited to, Ferrocyl, Jurocyl, and Invigorate injections. Arsenic can also be present in some seaweed based nutritional supplements. It is the responsibility of each trainer to carefully consider access to any sources of prohibited substances and the use of any supplements/additives to ensure that the horse is presented for racing free of any prohibited substance.
Trainers are put on notice that environmental contamination (through CCA timber or other means) will not necessarily be considered a significant penalty mitigating factor for presentation of a horse with urinary concentrations above the arsenic threshold in the future. Trainers are advised to take measures to ensure that racing horses do not have access to environmental sources of arsenic including treated timber products.
For further information please contact the Office of Racing Integrity on 03 6771900.
