Final Report of the 1999-2000 Vashon-Maury Island Soil Study

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	Home » Toxic hazards » Vashon-Maury Island Study

Toxic hazards
Final report: 1999-2000 Vashon-Maury Island Soil Study

This report is an examination of soil contamination with arsenic, lead, and other metals in the area downwind from the former Tacoma copper smelter.

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Introduction

The full report is also available in PDF format:

	Download report in Adobe PDF format (144 Kb)
	Tables, figures and attachments are accessed below.

Executive Summary

Acknowledgments

Sections

1.0	Project description and objectives
2.0	Study design
	2.1	Study design process
	2.2	Review of previous studies
	2.3	Study design principles
3.0	Sample collection
4.0	Laboratory analyses and results
5.0	Data validation review
6.0	Data evaluations
	6.1	Approach
	6.2	Magnitude of soil arsenic, lead and cadmium
	6.3	Spatial patterns
	6.4	Containment correlations
	6.5	Depth profiles
	6.6	Variability and spatial scale
7.0	Consistency with prior studies
8.0	Conclusions
9.0	References

List of Tables

Table 1	Field duplicate sample results
Table 2	Field equipment rinsate samples: Lead results
Table 3	Components of data evaluation data set
Table 4a	Arsenic concentration percentiles by sampling zone (all data)
Table 4b	Lead concentration percentiles by sampling zone (all data)
Table 4c	Cadmium concentration percentiles by sampling zone (all data)
Table 5	Arsenic, lead, and cadmium concentration percentiles by sampling zone (maximum location values)
Table 6	Summary of depth profile patterns for arsenic and lead by sampling zone
Table 7a	Summary of spatial scale variability by sampling zone: K-factors
Table 7b	Summary of spatial scale variability by sampling zone: Standard deviations

List of Figures

Note: Except for Figures 7 and 8, all figures below are only available by requesting a copy to be sent to you by fax or hard copies mailed to you. If interested, Click here to send an email to the Tacoma Smelter Plume staff with your area code and fax number or mailing address.

Fig. 1	Vashon-Maury Island Sampling Sites (PDF)
Fig. 2	Lognormal Probability Plot: Arsenic (All Data)
Fig. 3	Lognormal Probability Plot: Lead (All Data)
Fig. 4	Frequency Histogram: Arsenic (All Data)
Fig. 5	Frequency Histogram: Lead (All Data)
Fig. 6	Frequency Histogram: Cadmium (All Data)
Fig. 7	Arsenic Levels at Vashon-Maury Island Sampling Sites (PDF)
Fig. 8	Lead Levels at Vashon-Maury Island Sampling Sites (PDF)
Fig. 9	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Arsenic Data by Sampling Zone
Fig. 10	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Lead Data by Sampling Zone
Fig. 11	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Cadmium Data by Sampling Zone
Fig. 12	Scatterplot: Lead versus Arsenic Concentrations (All Data)
Fig. 13	Regression: Lead versus Arsenic Concentrations (LOG-LOG linear model, All Data)
Fig. 14	Scatterplot: Lead versus Arsenic Concentrations (Maximum Location Values)
Fig. 15	Regression: Lead versus Arsenic Concentrations (LOG-LOG linear model, Maximum Location Values)
Fig. 16	Scatterplot: Cadmium versus Arsenic Concentrations (All Data)
Fig. 17	Scatterplot: Cadmium versus Arsenic Concentrations (Maximum Location Values)
Fig. 18	Scatterplot: Cadmium versus Lead Concentrations (All Data)
Fig. 19	Scatterplot: Cadmium versus Lead Concentrations (Maximum Location Values)
Fig. 20	Arsenic Depth Profile Summary (All Data)
Fig. 21	Lead Depth Profile Summary (All Data)
Fig. 22	Cadmium Depth Profile Summary (Detected Values Only)
Fig. 23	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Arsenic Depth Profile Ratios, T/S, by Sampling Zone
Fig. 24	Frequency Histogram: Arsenic Depth Profile Ratios, T/S (All Data)
Fig. 25	Frequency Histogram: Lead Depth Profile Ratios, T/S (All Data)
Fig. 26	Comparative Depth Profile Ratios, S/T: Lead versus Arsenic
Fig. 27	Frequency Histogram: Comparative Depth Ratios, S/T, Lead versus Arsenic
Fig. 28	Comparative Depth Profile Ratios, S/T: Cadmium versus Arsenic
Fig. 29	Comparative Depth Profile Ratios, S/T: Cadmium versus Lead
Fig. 30	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Arsenic K-Factors versus Distance
Fig. 31	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Arsenic Standard Deviations versus Distance
Fig. 32	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Lead K-Factors versus Distance
Fig. 33	Box-and-Whisker Plot: Lead Standard Deviations versus Distance
Fig. 34	Scatterplot: Arsenic K-Factors versus Magnitude of Contamination
Fig. 35	Scatterplot: Arsenic Standard Deviations versus Magnitude of Contamination

List of Attachments

Att. A	Access Agreement Form (PDF)
Att. B	Laboratory Results, Soil Analyses for Arsenic, Lead, and Cadmium (PDF)
Att. C	Data Validation Report: Summary, Inorganic Data Assessment
Att. D	Additional Statistical Evaluations and Data Plots (Available upon request only. Click here to send a request to the Tacoma Smelter Plume staff for Attachment D.)

Acknowledgments

The development of the design for this study was the product of an intensive effort by members of the Technical Work Group. The Work Group members carefully reviewed and absorbed information from previous studies, developed statements of study objectives, evaluated proposed study designs in light of those objectives, and worked cohesively as a group to approve a conceptual model as a framework within which this study was performed. Public Health - Seattle & King County expresses its sincere appreciation to the agency representatives who served on the Technical Work Group, and especially to the community representatives from Vashon-Maury Island who donated their time and effort to make the study worthwhile. The success of this study owes much to the contributions of the Technical Work Group. We are also grateful to the numerous property owners who agreed to provide access for sampling on their property.

Public Health - Seattle & King County also thanks the technical reviewers who volunteered their time to review and comment on the Draft Report. Technical reviewers included Norm Peck, Washington State Department of Ecology; Dr. David Kalman, University of Washington, Department of Environmental Health; and Jake Jacobovitch, President, Vashon-Maury Island Community Council and Eric Weber, Vashon Island resident. The comments provided by these reviewers resulted in an improved Final Report.

Finally, Public Health - Seattle & King County would like to thank the Washington State Department of Ecology for its steadfast support, participation, and funding assistance throughout the project.

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Updated: Monday, December 11, 2006 at 03:48 PM

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