Federal officials Monday rejected an industry bid to use a known carcinogen as a preservative in lumber for backyard decks, picnic tables, playgrounds and other household uses.

Industry groups had petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)three years ago to use acid copper chromate (ACC), which contains the carcinogen hexavalent chromium, featured in the film "Erin Brockovich" to treat wood sold in hardware and home improvement stores.

EPA Assistant Administrator James B. Gulliford said the agency concluded that the dangers associated with the preservative, which include an increased cancer risk for plant workers and skin irritation among consumers, "outweigh the product's minimal benefits".

Among workers handling the preservative, the cancer rate can vary between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100,000, according to the EPA. The federally accepted standard is one in a million. Consumers using the product can experience skin irritation that can worsen over time.