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Human exposure can also occur from digging in contaminated soils, inhalation of contaminated particles, skin contact, eating plants grown in contaminated soil, or the consumption of animals that have eaten contaminated plants or lived on contaminated land.
You may also be interested in the web page on Contaminated Sites.
Summary of Information on Washington State
From National Organizations:
We were unable to find any information on contaminant levels in Washington State soils from national organizations.
From State Organizations:
In 2003, the "Area-Wide Soil Contamination Task Force Report" was released. It estimated levels of arsenic and lead in soils, related to the operation of smelters in Tacoma, Everett, Harbor Island, Northport, and Trail, as well as orchard land treated with pesticides containing arsenic and/or lead. The study found that approximately 487,000 acres in Washington State has been affected by the smelters and 187,500 acres has been affected by the application of these pesticides. Approximately one million residents live in areas likely to have more than 20 parts per billion of arsenic in the soil (the Department of Ecology's health-based hazardous waste clean-up level). There is no information available on soil lead levels attributable to the use of leaded gasoline. Related to this study, the Department of Ecology has published "Maps of Area-Wide Soil Contamination".
In 1994, the Washington State Department of Ecology conducted a study of "Natural Background Soil Metal Concentrations in Washington State". The study found that levels of metals were slightly higher in western Washington, than in eastern portions of the State.
The Department of Ecology's "Dangerous Waste Soil Contamination" webpage provides 'normal' levels of lead and mercury in soils in Washington State, Puget Sound, Clark County, Yakima Basin and Spokane Basin.
From Local Organizations:
Following up on the "Area-Wide Soil Contamination Task Force Report", a series of studies called "Dirt Alert" have been launched in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Thurston Counties. These studies conducted soil and dust sampling, especially in areas frequented by children.
Public Health – Seattle & King County prepared a report on a "Review of Available Data on Types of Cancer Related to Arsenic Exposure: Vashon-Maury Island, Washington State and Washington State Counties 1980-1998". This report found no "statistically significant differences" between rates in Vashon-Maury Island and King County or the State as a whole.
Other studies on contaminated soil in Washington State from local organizations include:
From Academic Institutions:
One study has looked at "Pesticides in Household Dust and Soil: Exposure Pathways for Children of Agricultural Families".
Another study looked at the "Vertical Distribution of Lead and Arsenic in Soils Contaminated with Lead Arsenate Pesticide Residues".
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Information on Washington State in Context
Information on Washington State suggests that there are some significant problems associated with the operation of metal smelters, but that overall, background levels of industrial contaminants in soils are less than or comparable with levels in other regions of the country.
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Quality of Information on Washington State
There is relatively good information available on levels of heavy metals in soil in Washington State, mostly related to the operation of metal smelters. However, there is little or no information available on ambient levels of pesticides, other persistent pollutants, and soil contamination from leaded gasoline.
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General Information Sources
Washington State Department of Ecology: www.ecy.wa.gov
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The Collaborative on Health and the Environment – Washington
