Washington Agency Continues to Study Land Around Closed Smelter

Researchers have found arsenic and lead from a now-closed Tacoma, Wash.-area smelter at relatively low levels in Kitsap County and in a portion of Pierce County not previously examined.

The results are part of a final round of soil sampling under way as the Washington Department of Ecology and local and state health agencies study the size of the area affected by the former Asarco Inc. copper smelter.

While contamination above normal background levels is widespread, there is no health emergency at the concentrations measured so far. Local health departments and the state Department of Health have said that the levels of lead and arsenic are of some concern, but are not an immediate health risk.

"Overall, the arsenic and lead levels are consistent with the contamination pattern we expected to see," said Marian Abbett, Ecology's project manager for the Tacoma smelter studies.  "We are close to finding the edge of the contamination, allowing us to identify and work with those communities affected by the smelter emissions."

Arsenic concentrations at 31 of the 39 sampling locations fell within the standards, while eight places had arsenic concentrations above the standard of 20 parts per million (ppm).  The highest arsenic concentration was 37 ppm.

The study seeks to determine where concentrations are consistently above 20 ppm, the cleanup standard for arsenic in areas where people live and play.

The information helps determine the outer boundaries of the area affected by smelter pollution, but cannot determine specific levels on a smaller scale, such as a particular property or even a city.