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Department of Ecology News Release - December 6, 2004
04-222
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) now estimates that arsenic and lead from the former Asarco smelter in Tacoma is spread over about 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound area.
New tests of soil from King, Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap counties show elevated levels of arsenic at concentrations consistent with results from earlier studies, according to Marian Abbett, Ecology's project manager for the Tacoma smelter studies. The latest testing concludes Ecology's effort to identify the border of the contamination, Abbett said.
"The new results fit the pattern we've been seeing, with higher levels of lead and arsenic closer to the smokestack and lower levels farther away, depending on prevailing winds," Abbett said.
Among the most recent soil samples, one area in Thurston County has more contamination than anticipated, according to Abbett. The highland top of the Nisqually Bluff showed arsenic at 159 parts per million (ppm) and lead at 1,110 ppm. The state's soil cleanup standard for arsenic is 20 ppm; for lead, it is 250 ppm. Of the 51 locations tested in Thurston County, 32 fell within the state standard for arsenic and 50 were within the standard for lead.
"Our previous advice still holds," said Jim White, a toxicologist with the state Department of Health. "While there is no health emergency at concentrations measured at any of the properties, this is a health concern people can manage by minimizing contact with soil."
No residents are living in the area of high concentrations in Thurston County. The lands are undeveloped, forested and the soils are not exposed. It is typical of areas targeted in the study -- minimally disturbed lands where arsenic and lead levels tend to be highest, according to Abbett.
"We have notified property owners of the findings and we're running additional tests to confirm the source," said Patrick Soderberg of Thurston County Environmental Health. "There's a chance the high concentrations may not be solely from the smelter because the lead-arsenic ratio is different from other areas that have been tested."
Soderberg said his agency plans to provide educational materials to daycare centers for protecting children and employees.
The greatest health risk from lead and arsenic comes when tainted soil is ingested. Health agencies in the four counties are encouraging people to protect themselves from exposure through common-sense habits that include hand-washing and removing shoes at the doorstep before going indoors. They also urge that small children be kept from playing in contaminated dirt because they are most vulnerable to health effects from eating lead and arsenic in soils.
In King County, researchers collected soil samples throughout the county from the foothills west to Puget Sound. Of 166 new locations sampled, 100 fell within state standards for arsenic and all but one sample were within the standard for lead. The highest arsenic level was 77 ppm. The highest arsenic concentration found in previous studies in King County was 460 ppm on south Vashon-Maury Island.
In Pierce County, soil samples were collected south and east of Interstate 5, including areas near Roy and McKenna. Of the 84 new locations sampled, 66 fell within the state arsenic standard, and 72 had lead levels within the standard. The highest arsenic and lead concentrations were 352 ppm and 1,940 ppm, respectively. Previous studies found arsenic levels as high as 1,050 ppm in Tacoma.
In Kitsap County, soil samples were collected along the Puget Sound coast line in eastern parts of the county. Of 53 locations sampled, 40 had arsenic levels within the state standard. No locations had lead levels higher than the standard. The highest arsenic concentration was 37 ppm.
King and Pierce health agencies have been working closely with Ecology to sample soils in playgrounds in the part of the footprint area with the highest concentrations. The sampling effort continues in King County and is expected to last several more months.
Property owners can get free advice from Ecology or their local health agency about how to test their soils and what to do if they find contamination. Such steps can include replacing or covering soil in high-activity areas such as playgrounds, gardens and pet areas.
More information can be found on-line or by calling the local health department listed in the phone book. Ecology's Marian Abbett can be reached by calling 360-407-6300.
Ecology:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/tacoma_smelter/ts_hp.htm
King County:
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/tsp/arseniclead.htm
Pierce County: http://www.tpchd.org
Thurston County: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/tacomasmelterplume (Link
removed 04/17/2006)
Kitsap County:
http://www.kitsapcountyhealth.com/tacoma_smelter_project.htm
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Media contacts:
Sandy Howard, Ecology, (Pierce and Thurston counties), 360-407-6239
Larry Altose, Ecology, (King and Kitsap counties), 425-649-7009
Hilary Karasz-Dominguez, Public Health, Seattle & King County, 206-296-4767
Frank DiBiase, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, 253-798-7674
Patrick Soderberg, Thurston County Environmental Health, 360-754-4111, ext. 7273
Jan Brower, Kitsap County Health District, 360-337-5672
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
