Health effects of arsenic and lead

Arsenic and lead are toxic metals and can be harmful to humans, especially children. They pollute the soil in many parts of Washington near former smelters, and old orchards where lead arsenate pesticide was used. They can also be found in products used in our daily lives.

Sources of lead include old paint, gasoline, and lead plumbing.
Arsenic can be found in pressure-treated wood and pesticides.

This page provides links to important information about health risks and how to avoid exposure to arsenic and lead.

Long-term exposure increases risk

Arsenic and lead in soil do not pose an immediate health risk. However, long-term exposure increases the risk of certain health problems. We recommend you protect yourself and your family by practicing our simple healthy actions.

How can you be exposed?

Arsenic and lead are not absorbed through the skin.

You can be exposed to arsenic and lead by swallowing or inhaling small amounts of contaminated soil. This includes activities such as:

Eating with dirty hands.
Putting dirty fingers in your mouth.

Young children are more at risk than adults. They are more sensitive because their bodies are smaller and still growing. Also, they normally put their fingers and other things in their mouth, even if they are dirty.

What determines the type of health problems that may occur?

The amount of contamination to which a person is exposed.
The length of time a person is exposed.
An individual's sensitivity to the harmful effects of the contamination.

Where can I test my children's blood lead levels?

Contact your pediatrician or health care provider. For more information:

Visit the Washington Department of Health's Testing for Lead Poisoning website.
Call the Washington Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-909-9898.

Scientists have linked long-term exposure to arsenic to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer of the bladder, lung, skin, kidney, liver, and prostate.

Arsenic (Washington Department of Health)
ToxFAQs for Arsenic (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
Arsenic in Drinking Water (Washington Department of Health)
Wood Pressure Treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Pressure Treated Wood: A common sense guide (Thurston County)

In children, lead can cause behavioral problems like hyperactivity, permanent learning difficulties, and reduced physical growth. In adults, lead can increase blood pressure, affect memory, and contribute to other health problems.

ToxFAQs for Lead (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
Lead (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Occupational Lead Exposure: An Alert for Workers (WA Department of Labor & Industries)
Occupational Lead Exposure: An Alert for Employees (WA Department of Labor & Industries)

Contact information

Ecology
Andy Kallus
Toxicologist
andrew.kallus@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7324

Snohomish Health District (Everett Smelter):
Mike Young
myoung@shd.snohomish.wa.gov
425-339-5250

Northeast Tri-County Health District (Upper Columbia River):
Environmental Health Department
ehmail@netchd.org
509-684-2262

Public Health Seattle & King County (Tacoma Smelter Plume):
Leslie Jimenez
DirtAlert@kingcounty.gov
206-477-DIRT (3478)

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (Tacoma Smelter Plume):
Chris Matter
DirtAlert@tpchd.org
253-649-1853

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