This study evaluated lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in the residential communities adjacent to the Sydney, Nova Scotia, tar ponds, the area considered Canada's worst contaminated site. The tar pond remediation policy has been limited to the site and some residential properties. We compared background concentrations in 91 soil samples taken 5-20 km from the coke oven site with those in soil samples from the three communities surrounding the tar ponds: Whitney Pier, Ashby, and North End. These surrounding communities were statistically different from background regarding arsenic, lead, and PAHs. Twenty percent of the background soil samples and 95% of the tar pond soil samples were above the Canadian health-risk-based soil guidelines for arsenic (12 ppm), and 5% of the background samples and 80% of the tar pond soil samples were above the Canadian guidelines for lead (140 ppm). Regarding dust lead and arsenic loading, the results provide no evidence that Whitney Pier is significantly different than Ashby and North End. Children in these communities are predicted to have a 1-15% chance of blood lead > 10 [micro]g/dL. The results suggest that lead and arsenic found in the homes originate outside. The lead content of paint in the homes was not evaluated, but consideration of painted wood at the doorway did not confound the results of the study. The results indicate that the residential environment has been adversely affected by PAHs, lead, and arsenic and should be considered for remediation. Key words: arsenic, community, environmental justice, house dust, lead, PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, soil, Sydney, tar ponds, tracking.

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A steel plant and coke ovens in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, operated from 1901 through 1988 (Barlow and May 2000) (Figure 1). The coke oven area contained 400 coke ovens, four blast furnaces, and 10 open-hearth furnaces. The coal tar produced in making coke was released into Muggah Creek and created the tar ponds (Furimsky 2002; Tay et al. 2003) The release of the coal tar also resulted in the contamination of the groundwater. The coke ovens and steel plant deposited several million tons of particulate matter on the industrial site and surrounding community (CBCL Ltd. 1999; Furimsky 2002). Based on the analysis of the coal used in the coking operation, the particulate matter would have deposited significant levels of lead, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other contaminants (Furimsky 2002). Air sampling done while the coke ovens were operational showed significant levels of PAHs in the ambient air (Atwell et al. 1982). In September 1998, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Government of Canada, Government of Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton Regional Municipality stating that the Muggah Creek estuary is recognized as Canada's worst contaminated site and should be considered a national issue (CBCL Ltd. 1999).

Health research in Sydney, Nova Scotia, has found an increase in cancer incidence (Guernsey et al. 2000), cancer mortality (Band et al. 2003; Health Canada 1999), and congenital anomalies (Dodds and Seviour 2001) compared with the rest of Nova Scotia and Canada. Adolescents living near the tar ponds have expressed environmental and health related concerns about themselves and their families (Covell and O'Leary 2002). The health research suggests that the environmental contaminants released during the coke and steel operations may play a significant role.

For several years, the community has expressed the need for the contamination around the site to be evaluated to address their concerns about potential health risks. Sampling for contaminants has focused primarily on an area called "north of the coke ovens" (NOCO) in Whitney Pier, where lead, arsenic, and PAHs have been found (JDAC Environnrental Ltd. 2001a) and remediation has been recommended for several residential properties (JDAC Environmental Ltd. 2001b). The reason for focusing on Whitney Pier NOCO is that it is predominantly downwind of the coke oven site. The other neighborhoods in close proximity, Whitney Pier (outside NOCO), Ashby, and North End, have not been considered adversely affected, and the residents have not been considered to face increased health risks. There has been no evaluation of contaminants in house dust in Sydney. House dust is the primary exposure route for children (Manton et al. 2000).

Our study addressed three fundamental questions: a) Is there a significant difference in soil contaminant concentrations in background samples collected 5, 10, 15, and 20 km from the coke oven sire and samples collected from the communities surrounding the tar ponds? b) Are contaminant levels in Whitney Pier significantly different from those in Ashby and North End (Figure 1)? c) Are the environmental contaminants found in the soil also moving into the homes in the three communities surrounding the tar ponds?

Materials and Methods