Abstract
This study evaluated lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in the residential communities adjacent to the Sydney, Nova Scotia, tar ponds, the area considered Canada's worst contaminated site. The tar pond remediation policy has been limited to the site and some residential properties. We compared background concentrations in 91 soil samples taken 5-20 km from the coke oven site with those in soil samples from the three communities surrounding the tar ponds: Whitney Pier, Ashby, and North End. These surrounding communities were statistically different from background regarding arsenic, lead, and PAHs. Twenty percent of the background soil samples and 95% of the tar pond soil samples were above the Canadian health-risk-based soil guidelines for arsenic (12 ppm), and 5% of the background samples and 80% of the tar pond soil samples were above the Canadian guidelines for lead (140 ppm). Regarding dust lead and arsenic loading, the results provide no evidence that Whitney Pier is significantly different than Ashby and North End. Children in these communities are predicted to have a 1-15% chance of blood lead > 10 microg/dL. The results suggest that lead and arsenic found in the homes originate outside. The lead content of paint in the homes was not evaluated, but consideration of painted wood at the doorway did not confound the results of the study. The results indicate that the residential environment has been adversely affected by PAHs, lead, and arsenic and should be considered for remediation.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (396.8 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Burger J., Gochfeld M. Metals in albatross feathers from midway atoll: influence of species, age, and nest location. Environ Res. 2000 Mar;82(3):207–221. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1999.4015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Calabrese E. J., Stanek E. J., James R. C., Roberts S. M. Soil ingestion: a concern for acute toxicity in children. Environ Health Perspect. 1997 Dec;105(12):1354–1358. doi: 10.1289/ehp.971051354. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dodds L., Seviour R. Congenital anomalies and other birth outcomes among infants born to women living near a hazardous waste site in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Can J Public Health. 2001 Sep-Oct;92(5):331–334. doi: 10.1007/BF03404991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Furimsky Edward. Sydney tar ponds: some problems in quantifying toxic waste. Environ Manage. 2002 Dec;30(6):872–879. doi: 10.1007/s00267-002-2649-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Guernsey J. R., Dewar R., Weerasinghe S., Kirkland S., Veugelers P. J. Incidence of cancer in Sydney and Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia 1979-1997. Can J Public Health. 2000 Jul-Aug;91(4):285–292. doi: 10.1007/BF03404291. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lanphear B. P., Emond M., Jacobs D. E., Weitzman M., Tanner M., Winter N. L., Yakir B., Eberly S. A side-by-side comparison of dust collection methods for sampling lead-contaminated house dust. Environ Res. 1995 Feb;68(2):114–123. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1995.1015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lanphear B. P., Matte T. D., Rogers J., Clickner R. P., Dietz B., Bornschein R. L., Succop P., Mahaffey K. R., Dixon S., Galke W. The contribution of lead-contaminated house dust and residential soil to children's blood lead levels. A pooled analysis of 12 epidemiologic studies. Environ Res. 1998 Oct;79(1):51–68. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1998.3859. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Manton W. I., Angle C. R., Stanek K. L., Reese Y. R., Kuehnemann T. J. Acquisition and retention of lead by young children. Environ Res. 2000 Jan;82(1):60–80. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1999.4003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mielke H. W., Wang G., Gonzales C. R., Le B., Quach V. N., Mielke P. W. PAH and metal mixtures in New Orleans soils and sediments. Sci Total Environ. 2001 Dec 17;281(1-3):217–227. doi: 10.1016/s0048-9697(01)00848-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Polissar L., Lowry-Coble K., Kalman D. A., Hughes J. P., van Belle G., Covert D. S., Burbacher T. M., Bolgiano D., Mottet N. K. Pathways of human exposure to arsenic in a community surrounding a copper smelter. Environ Res. 1990 Oct;53(1):29–47. doi: 10.1016/s0013-9351(05)80128-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sterling D. A., Roegner K. C., Lewis R. D., Luke D. A., Wilder L. C., Burchette S. M. Evaluation of four sampling methods for determining exposure of children to lead-contaminated household dust. Environ Res. 1999 Aug;81(2):130–141. doi: 10.1006/enrs.1999.3962. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tay Kok-Leng, Teh Swee Joo, Doe Ken, Lee Ken, Jackman Paula. Histopathologic and histochemical biomarker responses of Baltic clam, Macoma balthica, to contaminated Sydney Harbour sediment, Nova Scotia, Canada. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Mar;111(3):273–280. doi: 10.1289/ehp.5437. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wolz Sarah, Fenske Richard A., Simcox Nancy J., Palcisko Gary, Kissel John C. Residential arsenic and lead levels in an agricultural community with a history of lead arsenate use. Environ Res. 2003 Nov;93(3):293–300. doi: 10.1016/s0013-9351(03)00064-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yiin L. M., Rhoads G. G., Lioy P. J. Seasonal influences on childhood lead exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Feb;108(2):177–182. doi: 10.1289/ehp.00108177. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]