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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that there are high levels of arsenic and lead in the air, in tailings and other waste piles, and in the soil of some non-residential areas in Hayden and Winkelman. ASARCO and the EPA have cleaned up lead and arsenic in residential and public areas of both towns.
The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and EPA believe that people living and working in Hayden and Winkelman may come into contact with arsenic and lead in the air and soil. EPA has asked ATSDR to offer urine and blood testing for community members to measure and study arsenic and lead levels.
The ADHS and ATSDR will be collecting blood and urine to test for evidence for exposure to lead and arsenic. They will be testing those samples from people determined to be at higher risk for health effects, pregnant women and young children, who are being exposed to arsenic and lead. Testing will begin in six to eight months but those interested should sign up now as there will only be 200 people tested.
Those that will be tested must be living in Hayden or Winkelman. Children aged nine months to five years will be tested for blood lead. Children aged six years to 11 years the test will be for blood lead and urine arsenic. Pregnant women will be tested for blood lead and urine arsenic. If slots are available, testing will be offered for children ages 12 to 17 and women of child bearing age. Testing is voluntary and free. The names of participants, contact information and test results will be confidential.
The possible health effects of exposure to lead and arsenic include: Lead exposure can cause learning and behavior problems in children and many other health effects. Some of the effects may never go away.
Arsenic exposure can cause stomachache, nausea and skin problems. Arsenic exposure over many years also raises the risk of cancer of the bladder, lung, liver and skin. To sign up for the testing or for more information contact Jennifer Botsford at the Arizona Department of Health Services at: 602-364-3128 or Jennifer.botsford@azdhs.gov.
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