KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Tonight, community organizers, health experts, and state, county and local officials will gather to discuss arsenic and lead contamination in King County soils. Recent figures from the state showed contamination in most locations sampled, and the findings have left community residents and legislators asking about health impacts as well as strategies for dealing with the contamination.
Public Health and the County Executive stress the need for more information. "We have a pledge from the state to provide adequate and appropriate testing similar to what occurred on Vashon-Maury Island," said Executive Ron Sims. Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County, said, "Though this is not a health emergency, the levels found in the initial testing are troubling. We need more information from the state to get a clear understanding of the threat in south county communities and other areas county-wide."
Members of the first panel include a representative from Normandy Park, which has taken a fast track approach to soil testing. The first panel will also include a Vashon Island community leader who has organized the island's residents to address contamination there. The Environmental Hazards manager at Public Health will address Public Health's role in uncovering the contamination, and will also announce a free blood lead screening to be held later this month. A representative from the Department of Ecology will present the state's perspective. The second panel will address health concerns, including presentations from a cancer doctor, pediatrician, and a state toxicologist.
Monday, June 17th
7-9 p.m.
Somers Auditorium
Highline Community Hospital
16251 Sylvester Road SW
Burien
Public Health recommends that parents who are concerned that their child has been exposed to lead talk to their child's pediatrician about blood-lead testing. Though it is preferable that children be tested by their personal health care providers, Public Health and the State Department of Health will be offering free blood lead screening for area children between ages 1-6:
Saturday, June 29th
10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Normandy Park Congregational Church
19247 First Ave. South
Normandy Park
Lead is a well-documented poison that causes a variety of health effects, including developmental delays and lowered IQ in children. Other health effects linked to long term lead exposure include brain and kidney damage. Children and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead. Long-term arsenic exposure is linked to liver, lung, prostate, bladder, kidney, and non-melanoma skin cancers. Arsenic does not appear to be linked to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or other leukemias.
Public Health is encouraging the state to fund additional studies that will provide a more complete picture of the contamination county-wide. In the meantime, concerned persons may test their own soils. Guidance for residential soil sampling may be found on Public Health's website: www.metrokc.gov/health/tsp/arseniclead.htm
While the state is responsible for providing a clean-up plan, Public Health advises families to take steps now to reduce exposure. These measures include:
- Wash hands before eating
- Remove shoes before entering the home
- Damp mop and wipe surfaces to keep dust under control
- Keep children and pets off of bare soils
