King County Executive Ron Sims and Public Health - Seattle & King County Director Dr. Alonzo Plough today released preliminary
findings of elevated heavy metal levels in undisturbed soil on some points on Vashon and Maury Islands and at select sites on the coastline of mainland
King County. While this is not a health emergency, Sims and Plough expressed concern about possible long-term, low-dose exposure to arsenic and lead,
and explained their planned next steps.
“This information is especially important for those in the affected communities,” said Sims. “Even though these results are preliminary,
common sense precautions can be taken by those concerned about possible exposure to lead and arsenic.”
“This is not a health emergency - like during an e.coli outbreak, when there is an immediate need for public concern,” explained Plough. “These
preliminary findings tell us that more intensive study should be pursued, and we are already initiating our next steps to provide a community-wide picture
of possible risk. King County is reaching out now to the community to address questions and concerns.”
King County Councilmember Greg Nickels, chair of the Seattle-King County Board of Health, added “It is critical for all residents and workers in
this area to know that the health department is taking all measures to help residents evaluate the impacts to their health and their land and take common
sense precautions.”
Island residents originally raised questions about soil contamination on the islands following a public meeting last year regarding elevated levels
of inorganic metals at the Glacier (formerly Lone Star) Mining site. Public Health - Seattle & King County responded to these concerns by creating a
work group with representatives from the community and health care and partner agencies. The purpose of the group was to design a study to determine
the level of arsenic and lead contamination across all of Vashon and Maury Islands.
For 95 years, a copper smelter operated in Ruston, just south of Vashon and Maury Islands. Because of wind patterns, some of the smelter’s
emissions were carried northward to these islands as well as parts of the mainland in King County, Sims said. The smelter was closed in 1986.
Plough said the study has been carried out over the last few months with grant funds from the State Department of Ecology.
Elevated levels of arsenic and lead are found together in some of the sites tested.
The soil samples taken to date originated from forested areas that had been relatively undisturbed in recent years to determine the worst case
scenario of contaminations. Soils that have been moved or involved in new construction over time likely have lower levels of contaminants, Plough said.
“Our preliminary study results indicate arsenic concentrations that ranged from three parts per million to 460 parts per million,” said Plough.
“Washington State soil studies indicate a routine level of arsenic in soil is about seven parts per million. For lead, we found concentrations that
range from seven parts per million to 1,300 parts per million. State soil studies indicate a routine level of lead in soil is about 24 parts per million.
Interestingly, we also found that levels can vary by several hundred percent, even over distances of as little as 50 feet.”
Plough said the highest concentration of lead and arsenic were found at sites in South Maury and Vashon Islands. The next highest
concentration was found at sites on the mainland coastline, followed by sites on North Maury and Vashon Islands.
“We believe that exposures at the levels of arsenic and lead found locally do not cause short-term, acute health problems, but may be
capable of causing longer-term affects,” said Plough.
The long-term effects of arsenic exposure can include cancer of the skin, bladder, kidney liver and lungs. Children exposed to lead are at
particular risk of health consequences, Plough said. The effects of lead exposure on children include learning difficulties, reduced growth and
decreased mental ability in children.
Arsenic and lead get into the body when contaminated soil or dust get into mouths or lungs during gardening or other work that involves
touching or moving soil. Groundwater and well water are safe, and King County’s surface water management services that were just
expanded to this area will continue to monitor groundwater for residents. Commercially grown produce from Maury/Vashon Island is safe as
long as washed carefully and all soil is removed.
“The findings we have are preliminary and pertain only to the soil tested,” Plough emphasized. “We are not aware of any
illness or other human health effects from these elevated levels of arsenic and lead. We want the community to know about these results
now, so a common sense and reasonable approach can be taken by all concerned.”
Public Health - Seattle & King County is aggressively reaching out to the community to address their questions and concerns with several
support efforts, including:
- Completing this study, with a final report due in about June;
- Conducting additional soil sampling to further characterize the nature and extent of arsenic and lead contamination;
- Making the report available to ensure easy access to the preliminary findings. The report will be available at all King County libraries,
as well as on the King County Public Health website at http://www.metrokc.gov/health/;
- Establishing a hotline to address community concerns. Residents can call (206) 296-4692;
- Making public health experts available at the King County Vashon/Maury Island Community Center at 19021 Vashon Highway SW, (206) 296-4510. Residents are invited to stop by Tuesday through Saturday noon to 8 p.m.;
- County health officials working with local health care providers to assure they have the information needed to assist King County residents with arsenic and lead-related health concerns; and
- Recommending that concerned parents visit their regular health care provider for health care testing.
Preventative common sense measures residents can follow include:
- Cover bare soil where children play with grass, gravel or wood chips;
- Test bare soil in gardens, or where children play, by a state Department of Ecology approved laboratory;
- Use commercial agricultural practices like crop rotation and soil enhancement to reduce levels of contaminants
- Carefully wash and remove all soil from commercially grown produce, as one normally does;
- Remove any residual soil by washing and paring skins from commercially or homegrown fruits and vegetables;
- Washing with water before bringing garden crops into the house, and use a scrub brush and edible soap or detergent to wash produce again carefully to remove any remaining soil particles; and
If working with soil in these areas, wear a dust mask; wash hands and face frequently, particularly before eating; reduce dust by wetting soils before working; and remove work shoes or soiled clothing before entering a home.
Follow up steps to this preliminary study include:
- Reviewing health statistics and the cancer registry for unusual disease clusters on Maury/Vashon Island;
- Continuing to work with the University of Washington and state Department of Health to investigate the feasibility of conducting exposure assessments and symptom survey studies on Maury and Vashon Islands;
- Continue working with the Environmental Protection Agency, state departments of Health and Ecology and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to plan next steps for studying these issues;
- Additional sampling in randomly selected residential sites as well as selected locations throughout the area; and
- Continuing to work closely with farmers, the King County Agriculture Commission, the Washington State University Extension Service, the Research Station at Puyallup, and the Vashon Island Growers’ Association regarding agricultural aspects and impacts from these preliminary findings.
