Public Health Risk of Arsenic Contamination at a Public Park in Deer Lodge, Montana

Abstract

This paper reports an effort by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to identify whether the arsenic soil concentrations in a public park in Montana were a health concern for park users. Concern was expressed especially for children in the nearby town of about 3,500 who may visit the park regularly. To address this concern, the ATSDR designed and conducted a soil sampling program of the park in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Montana state health and environmental agencies, and the local county government. The sampling design focused on taking composite samples from the most-used areas of the park, such as trails, benches, picnic tables, and other areas where exposure to soil was more likely. Standard EPA methods were used for sampling and laboratory analysis. Results were compared to a risk-based concentration (RBC) of 684 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) which was based on the exposure of a child to park soil 48 times a year. This RBC was developed by the EPA with the concurrence of the other agencies involved. The results indicate that general recreational use of the park is safe.