Little Rock—As part of its ongoing investigation into cancer concerns in the Prairie Grove community, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is testing air, water and soil samples from various locations in the community.

The Health Department made an unannounced visit to a local galvanizing facility and collected air samples. These were tested for cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc oxide, hydrochloric acid and alkaline dust. Samples were collected at the exhaust fan located above the galvanizing kettle, at the fence line on three sides of the building and at the edge of the parking lot on the fourth side of the building. The fence line and parking lot samples were selected because of the potential for Prairie Grove residents’ exposure to air emissions from the facility.

Based on these sampling results, Prairie Grove residents are not being exposed to air contaminants from the local galvanizing facility at levels that could cause adverse health effects.

The results are as follows:

• The exhaust fan sample contained cadmium, lead, zinc and hydrochloric acid.
• The cadmium concentration of 0.00013 milligrams per cubic meter of air is below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Human Health Screening level of 0.0011 milligrams per cubic meter of air.
• Lead was detected at a concentration of 0.00013 milligrams per cubic meter of air, and zinc was detected at a concentration of 0.92 milligrams per cubic meter of air. There are no Human Health Screening levels for lead and zinc; however, these levels were less than the Occupational Safety Health Agency (OSHA) standards of 0.05 milligrams per cubic meter of air and 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air respectively.
• Hydrochloric acid was detected at a concentration of 0.88 milligrams per cubic meter of air, which does not exceed the OSHA occupational standard of 7 milligrams per cubic meter of air.
• Chromium and alkaline dust were not detected in the exhaust fan samples.
• Cadmium, chromium, lead and alkaline dust were not detected in either the fence line or parking lot samples.
• Zinc was detected in concentrations of 0.017 milligrams per cubic meter of air and 0.012 milligrams per cubic meter of air in one fence line sample (adjacent to Muddy Fork Creek) and at 0.0033 milligrams per cubic meter of air at the edge of the parking lot. There are no Human Health Screening levels for zinc; however, the OSHA occupational standard of 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air was not exceeded.
• Hydrochloric acid was detected at the fence line in a concentration of 0.03 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This level slightly exceeds the Human Health Screening level of 0.021 milligrams per cubic meter of air; however, EPA estimates inhalation of 0.021 milligrams per cubic meter of air over a lifetime would not likely result in adverse health effects. Mild respiratory effects, including throat irritation and burning of the nose and airways, begin at concentrations of 7 milligrams per cubic meter of air. The hydrochloric concentration measured at the galvanizing facility site is 233 times lower than the level that could cause mild respiratory effects.

Water results from ADH and soil results from ADEQ are still pending. ADH sampled three private wells in the corporate limits of Prairie Grove and three private well samples outside the corporate limits on April 8-9. These results are expected within three to four weeks of the time of collection. The ADEQ collected surface and/or subsurface soil samples at several locations within Prairie Grove on April 8-9. The results of these samples are expected within 30-45 days of the collection date. ADEQ will publish a press release of these results after evaluation has been conducted by ADEQ. The ADH results will be released upon receipt of test data and analysis.

The Health Department will continue its investigation in the Prairie Grove community. Community questions and concerns regarding health issues should be directed to Rick Johnson, Washington County Health Unit, at (501) 521-8181 or, in Little Rock, Lori Simmons, at (501) 661-2936. The Health Department will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

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