Elevated levels of lead have been found in the public right-of-way along the 4200 block of 23rd Avenue W in Interbay near Fishermen’s Terminal, prompting a cleanup and additional environmental testing.
Public Health – Seattle & King County is advising pedestrians to use alternate routes around the affected block, between W Commodore Way and W Elmore Street, when possible. People should also avoid the alley between 22nd Avenue W and 23rd Avenue W unless they need to access the area.
A specialized contractor hired by the City of Seattle cleaned known areas of contamination in the roadway and a stormwater catch basin on Aug. 27. Additional testing is underway to determine the extent and source of the contamination and whether more cleanup is needed.
Lead-contaminated dust can be carried on shoes and stroller or wheelchair wheels and tracked into homes, vehicles and workplaces. Public Health recommends that people who have recently walked through the area remove their shoes before entering their homes and wipe stroller or wheelchair wheels with a damp cloth.
Seattle Public Utilities collected samples from the roadway and a stormwater catch basin along 23rd Avenue W in late July, followed by confirmatory testing in August. A roadway sample contained 55.3 parts per million of leachable lead, while a catch basin sample contained 451 parts per million. Both were above Washington’s hazardous waste threshold of 5 parts per million.
Public Health also collected water and dust samples at a nearby private daycare in mid-August. Samples from areas where children spend time did not show concerning lead levels. Three of 11 samples exceeded Environmental Protection Agency action levels, but those samples came from areas where children do not spend time, according to the agencies. The daycare is working with Public Health to eliminate lead dust at the facility.
The investigation began after concerns arose about occupational lead exposure at Dyno Battery, which is located in the area. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries fined the company in March over workplace conditions involving lead exposure.
In April, the state departments of Health and Labor & Industries notified Public Health about concerns that Dyno Battery employees could carry lead home and expose their families. Public Health subsequently raised concerns about possible environmental contamination and contacted Seattle Public Utilities in July. Results confirming the elevated lead levels came back in August.
Dyno Battery owner Mark Knowlton told My Ballard that some lead oxide was tracked out of the company’s front warehouse earlier this summer and that much of it has since been cleaned up.
“Some of our lead oxide—it got tracked out a little bit in the front of the building,” Knowlton said. “We got a lot of it cleaned up.”
City, county, state, and federal agencies are conducting additional soil and water sampling to determine the extent and source of the contamination, assess risks to the public and nearby businesses, and identify any further cleanup that may be needed.
Public Health is also working with Dyno Battery employees to provide information about lead risks and blood lead testing. People with questions about lead and their health can call the Washington Poison Center at 800-222-1222.
The warning comes as Ship Canal Trail repairs are also affecting travel through Interbay, with a temporary detour in place just a few blocks from the lead contamination site through Aug. 31
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