Dirt Alert - Free Presentations
School Presentations:The Health Department's Dirt Alert program offers free presentations and education materials to preschools, child cares, and elementary schools. The program is designed to teach students and staff how to protect themselves from unhealthy arsenic and lead in Pierce County soils. For almost 100 years, arsenic, lead and other contaminants were blown throughout Pierce and King Counties from the now closed ASARCO copper smelter in Ruston, Washington.
Dirt Alert presentations emphasize "Healthy Actions" to protect people from inhaling or ingesting arsenic and lead when they are playing or working outside. Each participant will receive a "Dirt Alert Kit" with fun worksheets, a fingernail brush, dust cloth and other educational items. Dirt Alert presentations are designed to be fun and interactive. The program is aligned with the Essential Academic Learning Requirement - Health and Fitness.
The Dirt Alert program focuses on communities most likely to have soils that are contaminated. If you live in neighborhoods in north and west Tacoma, University Place, Fircrest or parts of Gig Harbor, Lakewood and DuPont, your soils may have levels of arsenic and lead considered to be unhealthy by the Washignton State Department of Health standards. (See the map of the Soil Safety Service Area to see if you are in this area.)
Presentation to your organization:
The Dirt Alert program offers free presentations to community groups such as neighborhood councils and garden clubs. The presentation will emphasize the health risks associated with coming into contact with arsenic and lead in soils. The presentation will also highlight "Healthy Actions" - such as kicking your shoes off when you come in the house, and other suggestions. Free soil testing is offered for residents that live in the Soil Safety Service Area. (See the map of the Soil Safety Service Area to see if you are in this area.)
If you would like a Dirt Alert presentation for your group please contact Chris Matter-Rinehart, Environmental Health Specialist, at 253 798-6492 or email DirtAlert@tpchd.org.
Ever wonder about your environment at home? Click here for more information about free home environmental assessments and soil sampling.
Last Updated: Nov 17, 2008 10:38 AM