Helena Valley, Montana, area environmental pollution study
The types, amounts, sources, distribution, and effects of pollution were studied in the Helena Valley area. Air, water, and soil were examined for contamination by arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc. In addition, airborne sulfur dioxide was measured. All measurements were made between June 1969 and June 1970. The investigation concerned contamination of the environment from the industrial smelting complex in the city of East Helena. Atmospheric concentrations of SO/sub 2/ in the Helena Valley exceed Montana air quality standards and levels reported in Federal criteria to be associated with deleterious effects on human health, vegetation, and materials. Industrial operations in East Helena are the responsible sources. Air, water, and soil are contaminated with heavy metals from the East Helena smelting complex. Arsenic, Cd, and Pb, which are emitted as air pollutants from both plants, settle and accumulate in soil and on vegetation to an extent surpassing levels that are toxic to grazing farm animals. Evidence indicates that sub-clinical effects could be occurring in humans.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Office of Air and Water Programs
- OSTI ID:
- 6632717
- Report Number(s):
- AP-91; PB-207126
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 8): East Helena, MT. (First remedial action), November 1989
Observation of heavy metal compounds in suspended particulate matter at East Helena, Montana
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LEAD
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ZINC
AIR POLLUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HEALTH HAZARDS
LAND POLLUTION
MAN
METALS
MONTANA
QUANTITY RATIO
SMELTING
SOILS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SEMIMETALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560306 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)