Late summer, early autumn a key time for testing for lead

KELLOGG — After spending sun-drenched summer days by the water or driving around North Idaho, the furthest thing from one's mind is the level of lead in their blood.

But Panhandle Health District officials say that late summer and early fall are critical times to test for elevated blood-lead levels to ensure everyone, especially kids, has been keeping active in safe areas away from contaminated soil.

Markers around the Bunker Hill Superfund site warn people of contaminants, but there are still locations being identified that lack visual cues to warn people of troublesome particles in the soil.

That’s why Panhandle Health program manager Mary Rehnborg has been concentrating efforts to offer testing beginning in late August and through the fall to monitor community exposure to lead and to better assess health risks.

“That’s typically when we see the highest lead exposures in our area," Rehnborg said. "We are trying to branch out and offer more testing options for adults as well and just make it more convenient."

She said blood-lead testing has taken place in the Silver Valley since 1974 and focuses on children because they’re the most susceptible to lead exposure.

New outreach efforts at Panhandle Health have spurred more engagement with the Silver Valley. Partnering with popular family events instead of just hosting its own activities allowed the agency to conduct 305 blood tests for children at the end of the summer.

“We’re still calculating results, but we did identify several (cases) that were elevated and we’ll be doing a follow-up with those families,” Rehnborg said.

She said those involved in mining or traveling through old mining sites can experience elevated levels, which is why the agency is working to increase blood testing for adults.

“If people are jeeping or side-by-siding and going over these old mine dumps, there’s a high potential for breathing in the contaminated dust,” Rehnborg said.

Panhandle Health has cleaned up about 7,167 contaminated soil sites. Of these, 3,236 properties were in the Bunker Hill Box and 3,931 were in the Coeur d’Alene Basin. During a cleanup, generally, the top 6-12 inches of contaminated soil is removed and replaced with clean material and a barrier such as grass.

However, contaminants still remain in large portions of the community, especially along the floodplain and along the rivers where water has eroded soil layers. People in those areas are at a high risk of exposure in addition to the standard concerns of lead exposure in older homes.

Oct. 22-29 is International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Panhandle Health is working on a partnership at Pinehurst Elementary School to host an art contest based on what students have learned about lead safety. Children can win prizes and have their handiwork displayed at Panhandle Health and potentially used in future lead safety marketing across the Silver Valley.

Panhandle Health offers free year-round blood-lead testing for anyone living or recreating within the Bunker Hill Superfund Site.

For blood-lead level testing, contact Panhandle Health’s Kellogg office at 208-783-0707.