The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in conclusions on their Public Health Assessment of an arsenic/lead contaminated site in Colorado in 2002 determined “that soil lead levels above 200ppm might result in 5% of the children with blood lead levels greater than 10ug/dL.” In the restricted Rosebery survey the highest soil lead level found was 4590ppm. The ATSDR proposed clean-up level for arsenic was 70ppm whereas the arsenic levels in Rosebery were up to 646ppm.
The Tasmanian EPA has stated that there is “no unacceptable risk” for residents in Rosebery?
The Government’s 16 recommendations for residents on reducing their exposure from heavy metals need to be read by all Tasmanians. Most people would not choose to live with these conditions if they had the right to know in advance or consider the levels of contamination an acceptable risk:
• Frequently wash your own and your children’s hands, especially before eating
• Regularly wash family pets and toys
• Try not to track dirt or mud into the house on shoes
• Try not to let pets track dirt or mud into the house
• Regularly wash or wet-mop floors, stairs, and window sills to reduce any dust that may have tracked indoors
• Vacuum walls, soft furnishings and carpets regularly.
• Remember to place dust in the garbage not in the garden
• Discourage children from nail biting
• Place clean uncontaminated sand or soil in children’s sand pits and play areas – move your children’s play areas away from bare soil
• Do not drink rainwater or use in cooking or for making up baby formula
Don’t let pets drink any seepage/exposed groundwater
Wash fruit and vegetables (especially if home grown) before cooking and eating
• Cover food to avoid dust settling on it
• Introduce clean top soil 30cm in depth in areas where vegetables are to be grown
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Make sure your home environment is safe
In comparison to recommendations put out in the US for similar contaminated sites, the Tasmanian Government’s minimalist recommendations and lack of ‘clean-up’ action is a tragedy.
Photo: Bubbling sludge photo taken from my yard.
