In 1993, a nearly 100-year-old remnant of the Asarco copper smelter was demolished along the Ruston and Tacoma, Washington waterfront. Though the smelter was shut down in 1985, the effects are still seen throughout the South Sound region. An estimated 1,000 square miles, known as the Tacoma Smelter Plume, has been affected by the decades the air emissions, mostly arsenic and lead, from the plant. However, despite the smelter having been demolished in the 1990s, Asarco and Washington State did not reach a settlement until 2009, allowing for a more comprehensive Soil Safety Program. With a new influx of funding, the previous years of soil samples could be assessed to determine which sites require remediation. In this project, the city of Tacoma will be analyzed to determine the high-risk areas for arsenic and lead exposure for high-risk populations. The result will be specific parcels in Tacoma where the anticipated levels of arsenic and/or lead will be higher that the acceptable levels for Washington state, as well as have high density of children under 10 and high likelihood of homeless populations.
