  |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 21, 1997
97-136
Contacts:
Jani Gilbert, Public Information Officer (509) 456-4464
Brad Hopkins, Environmental Investigations, (360) 407-6686
Ken Dzinbal, Environmental Investigations, (360) 407-6672
Owen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, (509) 456-3123
During the study, conducted by the Department of Ecology, levels of lead were three to six times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) water quality criteria for chronic (long-term) exposure set for the protection of aquatic life. Lead did not exceed acute (sudden, short-term) exposure criteria. Zinc exceeded both chronic and acute criteria, while cadmium exceeded slightly the federal criteria for chronic exposure and did not exceed the acute criteria. (See data table below.)
"Dissolved metals are often more toxic to aquatic organisms than humans," said toxicologist David McBride with the Washington State Department of Health. "The concentration of these metals is below current federal drinking water standards and are not a threat to human health."
Fish from the river are safe to eat because these metals do not tend to increase in concentration through the food chain. Department of Health does, however, advise people not to drink untreated water from the river.
"The presence of metals is a good indication that other contaminants, as well as harmful pathogens, may be present," McBride said.
The river is routinely sampled at the state line once each month---along with numerous other bodies of water in Washington State. During that routine sampling, Ecology looks for the presence of many different dissolved metals as well as other water quality parameters such as temperature and the cloudiness or turbidity of the water.
This special sampling, during high flows, focused on dissolved lead, zinc and cadmium. During the high flow period, stirred-up river bottom sediment and additional runoff sediment containing dissolved metals are washed into the river from the entire watershed.
Ecology sampled once in April, once each week through May, and once in the first week of June. Samples were taken from five locations: 2.5 miles upstream from the state line (in Idaho); the bridge at the state line; the T.J. Meenach bridge at Fort Wright; Riverside State Park, and below the Long Lake Dam.
"The results of this special study are consistent with past studies and confirm our suspicions about higher-than-normal levels of metals during the spring flow periods," said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons. "The next step is to determine just what these data mean to the aquatic ecosystem and the animals dependent on it living along the Spokane River. Then we need to take a serious look at solutions to this contamination problem."
An Ecology study conducted from 1992 through 1994, as well as continued monthly monitoring, indicates that the river frequently experiences elevated levels of lead and cadmium during high flows, while experiencing elevated levels of zinc consistently throughout the year. An "elevated level" means that the river does not meet water quality standards for these metals.
The 1994 report says, "... sources of [lead, zinc and cadmium] from historical mining practices in Idaho are considered to be the major reason for violation of ... water quality criteria..."
The Washington State Attorney General's Office is in the process of hiring a consultant to conduct additional studies to look at impacts of lead, zinc and cadmium contamination on other natural resources such as sediments and aquatic life. The state Legislature appropriated $300,000 this year for these studies.
The Attorney General's Office is working with the state's natural resource agencies (Ecology, Fish and Wildlife and the Dept. of Natural Resources) to determine whether or not the state will file a Natural Resources Damage Assessment claim. The Natural Resource Damage Assessment process has three parts:
| Dissolved Metal tested | Chronic (long-term) EPA water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life | Acute (short-term) EPA water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life | Spokane river spring 1997 special monitoring results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
