City Council asks for immediate cleanup of arsenic from backyards

On a sunny, warm evening in May, several dozen neighbors chose to stay indoors and hear about how to protect themselves from a new danger to the health of the community—arsenic, a poison, which has been found in a number of back yards in East Phillips. One resident spoke at the meeting and said she breaks out in a rash every time she gardens—the Department of Agriculture has not yet tested her garden soil for arsenic. Nikole Kaneski, a teacher from a local elementary school, said she attended the meeting looking for information so she could inform her students' families. She is concerned that the families are unaware of the danger, especially non-English speaking families.

In response to mounting concerns, Councilmen Gary Schiff and Dean Zimmerman, who represent East Phillips, recently authored a resolution which asks the "Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 to declare the residential area northwest of the CMC Heartland Partners Site in need of emergency cleanup requiring immediate action to address the public health concerns." The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously in support of the resolution. Now it is up to the EPA to oversee cleanup efforts.

In response to the City Council's action, Ken Rhame, the EPA project manager for the neighborhood cleanup of arsenic who is based out of Chicago, said the EPA needs to review yard testing results first. Mr. Rhame said he should get results any day now and be able to make a determination.

State Representative Karen Clark and State Senator Linda Berglin also sponsored an amendment to a state spending bill, which directs the Department of Agriculture to make testing and cleanup of the arsenic the agency's number one priority. The amendment is pending in the state legislature, as part of an omnibus spending bill.

The arsenic dust in residents' back yards originated from a grasshopper pesticide manufacturer, and was carried by the wind into residents' back yards over many years. Arsenic is a cancer-causing poison. Acute (short-term) high-level inhalation exposure to arsenic dust or fumes has resulted in effects like nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Chronic oral exposure has resulted in gastrointestinal effects, anemia, peripheral neuropathy, skin lesions, hyperpigmentation and liver or kidney damage in humans.

In May the East Phillips Improvement Coalition hosted a community workshop on how to limit exposure to arsenic, bringing in experts from the state health department and EPA. In conjunction with the workshop, the Sustainable Resources Center and Clear Corps offered free soil testing for arsenic. This was made possible by the NITON corporation, which loaned a state-of-the-art X-Ray Fluorescence testing machine. SRC hopes to make this service available to residents again.

When Will Yards be Cleaned Up?

"Our neighborhood association calls for more extensive testing and an immediate cleanup that protects residents' health," said Rebekah Cross, director of the East Phillips Improvement Coalition (EPIC), the organization which represents the neighborhood where the arsenic has been found. Mr. Rhame of the EPA said his goal is to start clean-up this summer, but the timing of cleanup depends on whether or not the potentially responsible parties (polluter) is cooperative. "If they are cooperative, things can happen relatively quickly," he said. "If they are not willing to perform the removal, the EPA could deem it necessary to spend Superfund dollars to clean it up," he added.

"This poison has been in the community for years. Who knows what the impact has been on the health of the children who live here. The neighborhood can't wait another summer—the cleanup of arsenic deserves the highest priority by the EPA," said Katherine Blauvelt, Minnesota Representative for the National Environmental Trust.

"What would be best for the health of the neighborhood's children and families would be for the arsenic to be cleaned up as soon as possible," said Dr. Charles Oberg, pediatrician and professor of public health at the University of Minnesota. In the meantime, the Minnesota Department of Health is advising residents in affected homes to wash their hands frequently and remove their shoes before entering the home to avoid tracking in contaminated dust. It also recommends that residents try to keep children from playing in the dirt.

For more information on how to get your yard tested for arsenic, call the Environmental Protection Agency at 312-353-6720 or e-mail rhame. Kenneth@epa.gov.

For updates on future community meetings, call the East Phillips Improvement Coalition at 612-278-7155.

For more information on how to protect yourself from arsenic exposure, call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-215-0700.