United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Bureau of Environmental Health & Safety - Idaho Division of Health April 1999 PANTHER CREEK ARSENIC EXPOSURE PREVENTION This fact sheetv\asprqparedby the Bureauof Environmental ffealth and Safety-Idaho Division of ffealth and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for citizens living or spending time in the l^ntherCrBekareanearCfcbalt, Idaho. It is a guide for preventing or reducing youre>qposure to arsenic untiladeterminatianismadecnv\hethertheseareasposeapotentialhealthrisk. This information is iiipoalantbecausearsenicmaycauseharmfulhealtheffects, eqpeciaUytochildren, theelderly, or these withejastinghealthpaxbLars. Soil sarrpling v\as conducted along Panther Creek f rem the Cobalt Ttwnsite dewn to the Salmon River aspartof the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (seemap). The EGA found arsenic concentrations in the soils in seme areas along the banks of the creek and is in the process of determining v\hether the levelsposeapotantialri^tohuranhealthandtheenvircmeint. The results of the sarrpling canbe found in the 1998 Remedial Investigation Data Surrnary Report, Blackbird Mine Site, Larhi County, Idaho, prqoaredby Colder Associates, Maxaryll, 1999. This report is available at the locations listed at the endof this fact sheet. Environmental Sources Arsenic is an elerrent carnanly found in the envirarrent as a mineral in carbinatian with other elements suchas oxygen, ircn, and sulfur. This formof arsenic is called inorganic arsenic. Arsenic can alsobe found inplants and animals. This form is calledcoganic arsenic. It is usually less harmful than inorcpnicarsgnic. Natural mineral deposits scmetires certain large quantities of inorganic arsenic. Iliringmining cperaticnsattheBlacl^iDdMine, thesemineralswerebooouc^tothesurfaceandcancentratedinsoils, tailirgs, and waste rock. ESst releases anderosionof scmeof thesematBrialspadirarily into Blackbird Creek resulted in arsenic contaminated soils being deposited in seme areas nearby and floodedby l^nther Creek. How Does Arsenic Get Into My Body? Arsenic can enter your body several different ways. S/\allcv\ringarsenic-acntcminatedsoilcrdust, dust an food and direct skin contact are the e>q?osure routes of greatest concern alcng the banks of Efeanther Creek. If youwear arsenic-contaminated clothing or shoes into your heme, it may also beacme contaminated. Strall children who play on the floor may get the dust into their mouths. Arsenic levels in E&nther Creek surface water meet EPA safe drinking water standards based on current data. E&ting ESnther Creek fish, using groundwater for drinking, andbceathirg the levels of arsenic found in soils or dust along Efeonther Creek are not ejected to pose a health risk. How Can Arsenic Affect My Health? lYknyfactorsdeterminewhetberharmfulhealtheffectswill occur, andwhat the type and seriousness of those health effects will be. These factors include the dese (hewmxh), theduraticn (hew lag), the route (breathing, eating, drinking, crskincantact), andyourindividjal characteristics (age, sex, family traits, etc.). ThepossiblehealtheffectskysAallcwirghi^nlevelsof inooganic arsenic along thebariks of E^nther Creek follow. ------- 2 Possible effects franstort-faenri exposure: Nausea, vaulting, and diarrhea; decreased pxriucticnof redand\AhiteblocdcHLls; akronral heart rhythm; bloodvessel damage; car a "pins and needles" sensation inbands and feet. Direct skin ccntact maycause redness and swelling. Arsenicdamagesnanytissuesincludingnerves, stcmach, intestines, andskin. Possible effects from long-term exposure: Darkening of the skin and the appearance of small "ooms" or "warts" cn the palms of the band or soles of the feet. ffcwever, all of these syrrptxms, both short-term and long- term, aouldbe caused by conditions ether than arsaiLc ejqpcsure. Can Arsenic Cause Cancer? The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that arsenic is a knewn cause of cancer. &\allcv\ring arsenic increases yxir chances of developing tumors of the bladder, kidney, and liar. How Can I Prevent or Reduce My Exposure to Arsenic? INDOORS If yxLwnrkcr spend time in tie areas along ESnther Creek where elevated arsenic has been fiardinsaOs: •Rsnove shoes befesre entering t±ie heme to prevent tracking inenntarnirateddust or soil. •Dogs aa^ cats can carry ocntamirated soil into hcrrescntheirfeetandfur. IfpossibLe, keqopets cutcfareaswithcanterniratedsoil. IfpcssibLe, ke^petsoutsidethebcrre. Bathe yxir pets frsjHtly. •Vfesh your hands after handling your pet, and beforepa^aringcreatingfood. Vfeshyxir children' stands and faces afterplayiingcutcbars. •Danp ircp and dust frequently to reduce ccntact witharsanic-cx3±aTiinateddust if yxLbelieve that arsenic artarrinatedsoil has beenbrought into your heme. Childrenaremare likely thanadults to be espesed to arsenic in dust. Shartpoo carpets withdetergent andwater. OUTDOORS •Avoid unnecessary exposure to the areas alajg I^intherCrB^witheleatedarsenic lads in soil. Children are more likely thanadults to be expose! to arsanicinscdls. •Avoid eating, dririkirg, smoking, or cbSAorgwhile inthecontaiiiratedarea. •If youmust disturb the cmtarraratedarea, wear clean, fullba^pixtHrtiveclodnirg (coveralls or long sleeve shirt andpants), dnoes, andgloves. Wash wjrkclcthes s^Bi^elyfixmcfcherclcfchirg. •Your car or truck nay became contaminated with arsenicfraridirtcrdustcnyxrshoesarclathing, or if ;youdrive onto the exxtarrinatedareas. Danp dust the inside c£ thevdnide and dnartpoo the carpet with detergent andwater. •Spray the contaminated soil v.itliv.atex toprevant dust beforeyxidisturb the area. Arsenic is natumlly occurring and widelydistrihoted in the environment, andpecple are exposed to it intheirnonrsl daily activities. The sampling of I&nther Creek residents anddust in their hones coipletsdbytheMSER in 1997didnot suggest anyelevated exposures to arsenic; nevertheless, it is prudent to takeprecsuticns to reduce orprevent excess exposure to arssiic. Fortunately, exposure to arsenic in soils near Panther Creek canbereducedty taking the measures listed above . ------- 3 If you have any questions or acncems, or need additional information en the health effects of arseiic exposure (a gaieral fact sheet cn arsenic exposure is available), please acntact: Jean Woodward Idaho DistxictSevenHealthLDgpartrrent IdahoDivisicnof ffealth Steve Adams (208) 756-2122 or Bureau of Environmental ffealth and Safety Ken Anderson (208) 522-0310 450 W. State St. Boise, ID 83720-0036 (208) 334-5544 Fbrquesticns about the BlackbirdMme site, please contact Fran Allans, EPAProjectlVfenager, at (208) 378-5775 or leave a message at 1-800-424-4372 and Fran will call youback. The 1998 Remedial InvestigaticnDataSurrriaryR^ort, Blackbird Mine Site, Lemhi County, Idaho, prepare! by Golder Associates, February 11, 1999, and therqports that support the cleanup actions at the BladfoirdMire Site are available at the fcHcs/\rirg fcur locaticns: Salman PiMic Library U.S. EPA U.S. EPA 204 lY&in Street IdahoCperaticnOffice 1200 Sixth Avenue Salmon, ID 1435 N. Orchard 7th Floor Records Canter Boise, ID Seattle, WA E&nther Creek Inn* Ctfcalt, ID * (This locaticn certains scmeganeral infcomat±XL reports, as well as reports that subpart the clean^decisicnat the l^onther Creek linn. Rqpcrtsfcr future cleanup decisions at the Blackbird Mirewill alsobe available here.) Agencies participating in the Panther Creek Working Group are: District 7 ffealthDgpartmant Idaho Division of ffealth-Bureau of Envirorrental ffealth and Safety IdahoDivisicnof ffealtin-Divisianof Envirorrental Quality IdahoDivisicnof ffealth-Bureauof CLinical and Preventive Services U.S. RxestService Agency for Tbxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) U.S. EnvirorrentalProtection Agency. ------- 4 LEGEND Sample Sites (approximate) - Potential health risks at these sites to be determined PANTHER OREEK SOIL Not to Scale SAMPLE LOCATIONS BMSQ/1 ggg SAp/|D PROJECTNO. 943 1595.003.1252 DRAWING NO. 82286 DATE 4/16/99 DRAWN BY EA Golder Associates ------- SEPA United States EPA Region 10 Environmental Protection Community Relations and Outreach Agency 1200 Sixth Avenue, ECO-081 Seattle, Washington 98101 -1128 BULK RATE POSTAGE & FEES PAID U.S. EPA Permit No. G-35 FACT SHEET PANTHER CREEK Cobalt, Idaho ------- |