Health Information

· Lead Poisoning
· Arsenic Poisoning
· Cadmium Poisoning
· Zinc Poisoning

Lead Poisoning

Overview
Lead is a naturally occurring substance used in the manufacture of batteries, pigments, ammunition and other products. According to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR), lead is highly poisonous and can cause cancer, birth defects, brain damage, seizures and even death. Smelters, like the one formerly located in Blackwell, can release lead in the form of a toxic dust which can be ingested by people living nearby, entering the bloodstream through the stomach, lungs or skin.

Health Effects and Initial Symptoms
Lead poisoning can cause the following serious health effects:

• Lowered IQ (intelligence) scores in children
• Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavior problems in children
• An increased risk of brain, lung, stomach and kidney cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Fertility problems
• Anemia
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Low birthweight

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of lead poisoning may include the following:

• Stomachache, cramping, constipation or diarrhea
• Nausea, vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Persistent fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle weakness
• Higher rates of tooth decay

What Levels of Exposure Are Dangerous?
There is no known “safe” level of lead exposure. According to the CDC, blood lead levels once considered safe are now thought to be hazardous. Several recent health studies show that children who have less than 10 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) in their blood are affected with the same adverse health symptoms as children with higher levels of lead contamination. In order to keep children safe from lead contamination, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum level of lead concentration for a child-play area at 400 parts per million (ppm).


Lead in Blackwell
According to Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) records, approximately 30% of Blackwell children tested since 1993 are contaminated with lead in the range of 5 µg/dL or greater. Approximately 10% showed levels of lead equal to or greater than 10 µg/dL, considerably higher than the national average. More than 76% of Blackwell homes tested in December 2006 had interior dust with lead levels exceeding the safety standards published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and/or the EPA.

Arsenic Poisoning

Overview
Arsenic is a naturally occurring chemical element used in the manufacture of insecticides, pressure-treated lumber and other products. Arsenic is highly poisonous to humans and can cause cancer, birth defects, brain damage and even death. According to the ATSDR, the most common way people are exposed to arsenic is through occupational settings in smelters and chemical plants. Smelters, like the one formerly located in Blackwell, can release arsenic in dust form, which can be ingested by people living nearby and enter the bloodstream through the stomach or lungs. Arsenic can also be absorbed through the skin.

Health Effects and Initial Symptoms
Arsenic poisoning can cause the following serious health effects:

• An increased risk of skin, liver, bladder and lung cancer
• Fetal malformations and/or fetal death
• Lowered IQ (intelligence) scores in children
• Low birthweight
• Kidney damage
• Decreased production of red and white blood cells
• Damage to blood vessels

According to the CDC, symptoms of arsenic poisoning may include the following:

• Sore throat or irritated lungs
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet
• Darkening, redness, or swelling of the skin
• Appearance of small corns or warts on the palms, soles, or torso

What Levels of Exposure Are Dangerous?
According the EPA, any concentration of arsenic above 3.9 parts per million (ppm) constitutes contamination.

Arsenic in Blackwell
More than 90% of Blackwell homes tested as recently as December 2006 contained concentrations of arsenic dust higher than the EPA’s standard for contamination. It should be noted that properties with levels of arsenic below the EPA’s contamination level are not necessarily safe; one medical study found a dramatic increase in the occurrence of bladder cancer among populations that had consumed water containing as little as .1 to .5 parts per billion (ppb), a far smaller concentration.

Cadmium Poisoning

Overview
Cadmium is a naturally occurring chemical element used in the manufacture of batteries, metal coatings and plastics. Exposure to cadmium can lead to cancer, brain damage and even death. Cadmium can enter the air and local water supplies as a result of mining or smelting and, as it has no recognizable taste or odor, can easily go undetected.

Health Effects and Initial Symptoms
Cadmium poisoning can cause the following serious health effects:

• Nerve or brain damage
• An increased risk of kidney disease
• An increased risk of lung cancer
• Fragile bones
• High blood pressure
• Liver disease

According to the CDC, symptoms of cadmium poisoning may include the following:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Loss of sense of smell
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss
• Darkening of teeth

What Levels of Exposure Are Dangerous?
According to the EPA, any concentration greater than 5 ppb in drinking water constitutes contamination.

Cadmium in Blackwell
Blackwell’s groundwater has been found to contain 4,200 times as much cadmium as the amount deemed safe by the EPA. Blackwell’s public drinking water, which comes from a different source, is considered safe. However, any irrigation using groundwater or well water could result in the ingestion of cadmium.

Zinc Poisoning

Overview
Zinc is one of the most common elements in the earth’s crust. It is found in air, soil and water, and it is present in all foods. Zinc is used in coatings designed to prevent rust, in dry cell batteries, and it is mixed with other metals to make alloys such as brass and bronze. According to the ATSDR, exposure to high levels of zinc occurs mostly from eating food, drinking water or breathing contaminated air in the workplace. Low levels of zinc are essential for maintaining good health. Exposure to large amounts of zinc, however, can be harmful and may cause stomach cramps, anemia and changes in cholesterol levels.

Health Effects and Initial Symptoms
Zinc poisoning can cause the following serious health effects:

• Metal fume fever
• Substernal chest pain
• Cough and dyspnea
• Impairment of pulmonary function including reduced lung volumes and decreased capacity of carbon monoxide
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anemia
• Decreased absorption of copper
• Decrease levels of high density lipoproteins

According to the ATSDR, symptoms of zinc over-exposure may include the following:

• Nausea
• Chills
• Malaise
• Chest pain
• Dyspnea
• Coughing
• Reduced lung volumes
• Leukocytosis

What Levels of Exposure Are Dangerous?
The ATSDR notes that harmful effects of zinc generally begin at levels 10-15 times higher than the amount needed for good health. The EPA recommends that drinking water contain no more than 5 milligrams of zinc per liter of water. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an average limit of 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m³) for zinc chloride fumes and 5 mg/m³ for zinc oxide (dusts and fumes) in workplace air during and 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.

zinc in Blackwell
During its operational life, workers at the Blackwell Zinc Smelter produced millions of tons of zinc alloy for use in many galvanized iron and steel products. Zinc was released from the smelter and was transported by wind and other natural processes onto and into the homes, properties and persons of Blackwell.