Toxics Cleanup Program

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 Dirt Alert!
Tacoma Smelter Plume

Extended
 Footprint


Tacoma Smelter Plume (Dirt Alert)
Extended Footprint Study
June 2004 Update

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Background
Footprint Studies
Guidance

Background

Since 1999, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the local health departments in King and Pierce Counties have been studying the soil pollution that came from the Asarco smelter smokestack. The air pollution that came out of the smokestack traveled with the wind and settled onto the soil in much of the Puget Sound Basin.

The agencies have studied:

  • how far from the smelter the soils are polluted (Footprint Studies); and
  • the amount of arsenic and lead in soils where children play (Child-Use Area Studies), (King County Studies), (Pierce County Studies).
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    While contamination is widespread, there is no health emergency at the levels measured so far. The health departments and State Department of Health have said that the levels of lead and arsenic are of concern, but are not an immediate health risk. The local health departments and Ecology are developing education and outreach programs - to inform people about the soil contamination and what they can do to reduce their exposure.

    Footprint Studies

    To get an overall view of the general “footprint” of contamination, three soil sampling studies were done: Vashon Island, Mainland King County, and Pierce County. These studies show higher than normal levels of arsenic and lead in the surface soil (generally the upper six inches). The studies that have been done so far did not find the edge of the polluted area.

    To find out how far the soil pollution extends, Ecology has teamed up with the local health departments in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Thurston counties to plan a final study - the Extended Footprint Study. Ecology provided grants to the four counties to conduct this work.

    As of June 2004, Pierce and Kitsap counties have completed sampling at nearly half of the proposed sampling locations in those counties. (Click Proposed Sampling Location Map to see the planned study area.) The results are consistent with the pattern of contamination seen in the previous studies. The concentrations of arsenic and lead decrease with distance from the smelter, and correlate well with wind patterns. To see the latest results, click Map.

    Sampling in Pierce and Kitsap counties should be completed by late summer. Sampling is just underway in King County, and to begin shortly in Thurston County. We will continue to update the sampling results on our website, as they become available. We expect to finish the final footprint study report by early 2005.

    Guidance

    Ecology and the health departments would like to encourage you to take measures to reduce your risk from exposure.

    Ecology and our health department partners encourage you to check out soil sampling and safety brochures at [new link]