BUNKER HILL MINING AND METALLURGICAL
KELLOGG, SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO
CONCLUSIONS
The toxic wastes at the Bunker Hill-Hillsides site are a public health hazard. People
living in the vicinity of the underdeveloped hillsides of the Bunker Hill site, in the past,
have been exposed to metals that can produce adverse health effects in the long term.
The risk of such exposure continues to be present. It is most likely to occur from
incidental ingestion of the soil. Concentrations of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and zinc are
high in the surface soils of some areas slated for future development. Children displaying
pica behavior are particularly at risk. It is also possible that exposure can occur through inhalation.
The contamination can migrate as development occurs in these areas and
the population increases. For this reason, this report makes recommendations
aimed at insuring that people are aware of the current contamination and that
soils are remediated before any future construction begins in the contaminated
areas.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Action should be taken to cease or reduce exposure to contaminated soils on hillsides (i.e.
post notices of possible exposure hazards due to high lead content in soil, install fencing
to prevent or reduce unauthorized access, and revegetate to prevent/reduce migration of
contaminated soils).
Ensure oversight and enforcement of the current institutional controls program during
development of current unpopulated areas.
Continue current efforts to educate and make residents aware of hazards posed by
exposure to lead in the soil. Ensure that future residents of property developed on hillside
areas are aware of hazards and of actions they can take to reduce exposure.
REFERENCES
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. Future development. Hillsides soil data
report. June 1996.
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. Field work plan for hillside area
sampling Bunker Hill Superfund Site. June 1998.
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. 1998 hillsides soil data report. May
1999.
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. Draft 1999 five year review report
Bunker Hill Superfund site. October 1999.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public health assessment guidance
manual. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1992.
TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. Summary of lead health intervention and
source removal efforts 1985-1996. October 1997.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for lead.
Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1999 Jul.
Pirkle JL, DJ Brody, EW Gunter, RA Kramer, DC Paschal, KM Flegal, et al. 1994. The
decline in blood lead levels in the United States: National Health and Nutrition
Examination Surveys (NHANES). JAMA, 272:284-291.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for arsenic.
Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1998 Aug.
Boutwell, RK. 1963. A carcinogenicity evaluation of potassium arsenite and arsanilic
acid. Agric. Food Chem. 11:381-385.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for cadmium.
Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1999 Jul.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for zinc.
Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 1994 May.
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Déborah A. Boling, MPH
Toxicologist
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Richard Kauffman, MPH
Senior Regional Representative
ATSDR Region X
