TACOMA SMELTER PLUME

Park Sample Results Released for Pierce County

Introduction

As part of the Department of Ecology's Tacoma Smelter Plume project, the local health departments in King and Pierce counties have been studying arsenic and lead in soils. The arsenic and lead is thought to be from the Asarco copper smelter that used to be located in Ruston, near Tacoma. Studies on Vashon-Maury Island , the mainland of King County, and western Pierce County over the past three years have helped to establish a general "footprint" of areas with arsenic and lead in soils. The studies conducted so far have shown widespread contamination in both King and Pierce Counties, but there is not a public health emergency. Ecology and the health departments are concerned about the effects of long-term exposure to contaminated soil, especially for young children. Long-term exposure to contaminated soil could result in an increased chance of certain types of cancer or other negative health effects later in life. Click here for more general background on the Tacoma Smelter Plume project.

The most recent part of the project was to sample areas used by children in the parts of King and Pierce Counties which may have higher levels of arsenic and lead. In May of 2003, the Department of Ecology ("Ecology") and the health departments issued results of soil sampling for elementary schools in King and Pierce Counties, and in July of 2003, results for child care facilities in King and Pierce Counties, and for King County parks were released. At that time, results for parks from Pierce County were not available. This page provides information for soil sampling at 16 parks in Pierce County. The county Health Departments will be conducting additional sampling at child use areas over the next two years.

Key Facts about the Pierce County Parks Results

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department sampled play areas (playgrounds, ball fields) where children are most likely to play at 16 parks in Lakewood, University Place, Fircrest, Steilacoom, and Pierce County. For most of the play areas, average arsenic and lead results are below the state cleanup levels. Please refer to the map of Pierce County Parks sampling locations. To see the results for the parks sampled, click on the numbered sampling location () on the map.
The following parks were sampled:
    City of Lakewood Parks
            Washington Park - 1 Play Area
    City of University Place Parks
             Curran Apple Orchard - 1 Play Area
             Homestead Park - 1 Play Area
             Sunset Terrace Park - 1 Play Area
             Colgate Park - 1 Play Area
     Town of Fircrest Parks
             Fircrest Park - 3 Play Areas
             Whittier Park - 1 Play Area
             Alameda Park - 1 Play Area
             Masko Park - 1 Play Area
     Town of Steilacoom Parks
             Sunnyside Beach - 1 Play Area
             Cormorant Park - 1 Play Area
             Perkins Park - 1 Play Area
             Cherrydale Park - 1 Play Area
             Webber Court Community Park - 1 Play Area
             Manitoba Park - 1 Play Area
     State of Washington Parks
             Kopachuck State Park - 1 Play Area
Facilities operated by Metro Parks Tacoma have not been sampled because Metro Parks, Ecology, and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department have not agreed on conditions requested by Metro Parks for an access agreement to conduct the sampling. There are 13 park sites operated by Metro Parks located within the area of North Tacoma that tends to have the higher levels of soil arsenic and lead.
Summary of results

Arsenic
- At four parks, the average arsenic for a play area was above the state cleanup level of 20 parts per million. The highest average arsenic for a play area was 46 parts per million at both Curran Apple Orchard and Colgate Park in University Place. (Average of 6 to 10 samples within each play area).
- Eight parks contained at least one individual sample above the state cleanup level for arsenic. The highest individual sample result was 148 parts per million at Curran Apple Orchard in University Place.
Lead
- All sixteen parks had average levels of lead below the state cleanup level
- Four parks contained at least one individual sample above the state
Lower levels of arsenic and lead are thought to result from site development - digging and grading tends to mix and dilute contaminants in the soil, so lower concentrations are usually found where building, grading, or landscaping has taken place. Undeveloped lands, or sites where little disturbance has occurred over the years, tend to have higher concentrations. Lands farther away from the smelter also tend to have lower concentrations. Results from individual samples, even samples quite close to each other, can be very different depending on past activities at that location.

To read more about the Tacoma Smelter Plume Child Use Studies and results, refer to: What we are Studying, What we have Found So Far, and What the Results Mean.

Our Next Steps

Ecology and the health departments are encouraging residents, childcares and parks to follow the guidance provided by the health departments: Soil Safety Guidelines in King County and Healthy Actions in Pierce County. Examples of safety measures include washing hands after playing outside, taking your shoes off when coming inside, and washing toys with which small children play. The effectiveness of these measures depends upon their consistent use or application.
Ecology is also encouraging residents, childcares and parks to provide clean play areas for children. For example, place bark, gravel, or rubber mats conforming to guidelines set by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission underneath playground equipment to keep children from playing directly in the dirt. See the Dirt Alert brochure for a review of different Soil Management Practices - measures you can take for contaminated soil.
Ecology can provide grants to local public governments including public parks. These dollars can pay for sampling and "cleanup". A 50% match is required. Governments interested in grant funds should contact Ecology as soon as possible as funds are limited. (Contact Marian Abbett; (360) 407-6257).
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will be conducting additional sampling at child care facilities within the area of concern upon request. Contact Glenn Rollins at (253) 798-3503; grollins@tpchd.org.
About one third of the identified child use areas within the area of concern in King County were sampled by Ecology's contractor. Public Health - Seattle & King County have received additional funds to continue the sampling at the remaining identified child use areas over the next two years. Final reports for the Pierce County Footprint sampling and Child Use Area sampling will be available early in 2004. Results and maps from the footprint sampling were released in January of 2003. Prior results from Pierce and King County Elementary schools and Pierce and King County Child Care Facilities, and King County Parks, were released in May and July, 2003.

Residential Sampling Program

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and Public Health - Seattle and King County, are offering free soil sampling for residents within the areas of highest concern in Pierce and King Counties. The sampling will look at soils within the top six inches in residential yards, and will provide residents with screening level information about the average levels of arsenic in their yards and gardens. To sign up for the sampling in Pierce County, contact Glenn Rollins at (253) 798- 3503; grollins@tpchd.org.