Tacoma Smelter Plume July 2003 Update

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TACOMA SMELTER PLUME

CHILD USE AREA STUDY – Childcare and Park Sample Results Released for King and Pierce Counties

July 2, 2003

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Key Facts about the Childcare and Park Results

Introduction

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) and health departments in King and Pierce Counties have been studying soils in both counties for the presence of arsenic and lead. Studies in undisturbed areas on Vashon-Maury Island, mainland King County, and western Pierce County helped to establish a general “footprint” of areas affected by air emission fallout from the former Asarco copper smelter in Ruston, near Tacoma. Click here for more general background on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

While these studies show widespread contamination in both counties, there is not a public health emergency. Ecology and the health departments are concerned about long-term exposure to the contaminated soil, especially for young children. We are studying the soils in areas where children play frequently, such as schools, parks, camps, and childcare facilities, in both southwestern King County and western Pierce County.

The Results for the Elementary Schools in King and Pierce counties were released last month. The results for childcares in both counties and for parks in King County are now available. This completes our child-use area studies for this round of soil sampling in King County. Sampling at parks continues in Pierce County, with final results scheduled for later this summer.

Key Facts about the Childcare and Park Results

We have sampled the play areas (playgrounds, ball fields) at 83 childcares and parks in King and Pierce counties. For most of the play areas, the arsenic and lead levels are below the state cleanup levels.

Sampling is complete at:

King County
28 childcares
30 parks
1 pea patch garden

Pierce County
24 childcares

The locations for the King County Parks we went to are mapped. To see the results for the parks sampled, click on a sampling location () on the map.

Many of the play areas at the parks did not have any exposed soil – the play areas were paved. The map includes these locations as "X'd" out () locations not sampled.

Summary of results:

Only 10 out of 83 childcares/parks have individual sample locations with lead above the cleanup level of 250 parts per million (ppm).

All childcares/parks have average levels of lead below the state cleanup level.

About half of the childcares/parks (42 out of 83) have individual sample locations with arsenic above the cleanup level of 20 parts per million (ppm).

Only 5 out of 59 childcares/parks in King County have play areas with average levels of arsenic above the state cleanup level of 20 ppm. In Pierce County, 12 of 24 childcares have average levels of arsenic above the state cleanup level. All other play areas at the childcares/parks have average arsenic levels below the cleanup level.

The highest average arsenic was 96 ppm, and the highest single concentration was 429 ppm – all found at a childcare in Tacoma. These levels also exceed the interim action trigger levels set for this project – 100 ppm for arsenic – See: What the Results Mean.

Ecology and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department are working with the childcare in Tacoma where the highest levels of arsenic were found. Fortunately, the areas sampled are not used by the children as a play area. There is minimal exposure to the children.
The generally higher levels of arsenic found in the play areas in Pierce County may be due to the childcares sampled being closer to the smelter, or older properties where the contaminated soil has not been disturbed recently.
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. Results from individual samples, even samples quite close to each other, can be very different depending on past activities at that location.
We went to sample the play areas at 19 childcares and 17 parks in King County, however the play areas were paved – the children are not exposed to any contaminated soil.

To read more about the study and results… What We are Studying and What the Results Mean.

Ecology and the health departments are encouraging the childcares and parks to follow the soil safety guidelines 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 childcares and parks to provide clean play areas for the 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. These actions could take place when opportunities arise, such as development or redevelopment of playground areas.

Ecology can provide grant dollars to local public governments including public parks. These dollars can pay for sampling and “cleanup.” They are a 50% match. We ask that any parks interested in grant dollars for cleanup activities in their play areas contact Ecology soon as we develop budget plans for this coming biennium (July 2003 to June 2005).

Childcare operators can apply for Brownfields loans, and should contact Ecology’s Public Outreach Coordinator, Hannah Aoyagi, at 360-407-6790 for more information.

Results from sampling parks in Pierce County will be released later this summer. A report summarizing all sampling results will also be released.

Ecology and the King and Pierce county health departments are discussing further sampling of child-use areas within the child-use area study zone in King and Pierce counties.

See the Dirt Alert brochure for a review of different Soil Management Practices – measures you can take for contaminated soil. See also Soil Sampling Guidance brochure for complete information on how to do your own sampling.

This page last updated Wednesday October 01, 2008