King County Studies

King County Studies

Ecology and the Public Health-Seattle & King County completed several studies beginning in 1999. The first studies looked at the footprint of contamination by examining soils in forested properties (Vashon-Maury Island 2000, Mainland King County 2002). The next studies looked at soils where children play regularly: in schools, childcares, and parks. (Vashon-Maury Island 2001, Mainland King County 2003).

Child-Use Area Studies:

Vashon-Maury Island School District Child-use Area Resample (Summer 2003) August 27, 2003
In the summer of 2003 Vashon School District and Ecology teamed to evaluate the effectiveness of cleanup efforts undertaken by the Vashon School District. We evaluated the effectiveness of actions taken in areas children play and learn in, such as the Kindergarten Play Area and gardens. This sampling is a follow-up to sampling completed two years ago.

Mainland King County Child-use Area Study July 2003 -- Updated
August 2004
164 play areas were sampled at 97 schools, parks and childcares. About 10% of the play areas had arsenic levels greater than the state arsenic standard.

Metals	Highest Found	Range of Averages	State Standard
Arsenic	189 ppm*	3-41 ppm*	20 ppm*
Lead	699 ppm*	4-134 ppm*	250 ppm*

Study Area Maps

King County Schools

King County Parks

Dockton Park Resample Study August 2002
Additional samples were collected at Dockton Park as a follow up to the first Vashon Maury Island Child-use Area Study. The resampling confirmed the previous sampling results.

Vashon-Maury Island Child-use Area Study -- November 2001
Vashon-Maury Island Child-Use Area Study: 65 play areas at 34 schools, childcares, parks, camps were sampled. Concentrations of arsenic and lead in the play areas are generally less than concentrations found in forested properties. Beach samples were found to be clean.

Metals	Highest Found	Range of Averages	State Standard
Arsenic	130 ppm*	4-50 ppm*	20 ppm*
Lead	900 ppm*	8-180 ppm*	250 ppm*

Vashon-Maury Island Child-use Area Study
Maps -- June 11, 2001
      Map: Average Arsenic Levels
      Map: Average Lead Levels
      Map: Maximum Arsenic Levels
      Map: Maximum Lead Levels

Footprint Studies:

Mainland King County Preliminary Study Added April 4, 2002
The second footprint study also found elevated concentrations of arsenic and lead. The concentrations decreased with distance from the old smelter and correlate closely with wind patterns and frequencies.

Metals	Highest Found	State Standard
Arsenic	260 ppm*	20 ppm*
Lead	790 ppm*	250 ppm*

Executive Summary* Added April 4, 2002:
Attachments* Added April 4, 2002:
*Optionally the above documents are available in one zipped downloadable file: tsp_soil_study.zip
(6 mb). The download is especially recommended for appropriate viewing of figures.)

Vashon-Maury Island - Undisturbed Area Study -- Added April 2000
The Vashon-Maury Island Study was the first in a series for the Tacoma Smelter Plume project. Elevated concentrations of arsenic and lead were found in forested areas of Vashon-Maury Island. In general concentrations decreased with distance from the smelter.

Metals	Highest Found	State Standard
Arsenic	460 ppm*	20 ppm*
Lead	1300 ppm*	250 ppm*

      Map: Maximum Arsenic Levels
      Map: Maximum Lead Levels

*ppm = parts per million