FAQs

What are the concerns about lead?

There is growing scientific evidence that low levels of lead exposure may be harmful to young children. Studies of large groups ("populations") of children 5 years and under show that adverse developmental, behavioural, and health risks from lead exposure can occur at low levels. At the levels we currently see in Trail, these effects would be subtle and not likely to be noticeable or measurable in individual children.

The less lead exposure the better - less exposure means lower health risks. There have been significant improvements in children’s blood lead levels in Trail over the past 25 years. In 1989, under 20% of pre-school children had blood leads under 10 micrograms per decilitre. Now around 90% of children have blood lead levels under 10 and we aim to keep increasing that percentage. 

The main health risks to do with lead come from dust, and the main risks are to young children. Most lead enters the body through the mouth on food, dirty fingers, toys or other objects that have lead dust on them.

Young children are most likely to put dirty objects in their mouths. Young children absorb lead up to 5 times more easily than older children or adults. Also, the early years are a crucial time for children’s brain development, just when they’re also at the greatest risk for the effects of lead exposure.

The Trail Area Health & Environment Program is designed to prevent children's lead exposure and keep children and families healthy and safe. Young children in Trail and Rivervale should have their blood lead levels tested each year, from the time they start crawling until 3 years of age. Interior Health Public Health RN, Jeannine Stefani has expertise, information and supports available to families with young children.

Please read the Family Health Fact Sheet and contact Jeannine Stefani at (250) 364-6223.

What are the concerns about other metals?

Lead is not the only metal emitted from the smelter. Two other metals of potential concern are arsenic and cadmium. Emissions of these metals have dropped dramatically over the past decades, but they are still present in the Trail environment at higher than normal levels.

Long-term exposure to low levels of arsenic can increase the risk for several types of cancers. Long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium can increase the risk of kidney disease and several other conditions including high blood pressure and cancers.

In Trail, the health risks from living here for a lifetime and eating local produce are such that it would be highly unlikely to measure increased illness in the population. Trail area health statistics have been reviewed by the BC Cancer Agency and Ministry of Health. They have not found evidence of increased rates of disease due to metals in the environment.

As with lead, the aim is to minimize exposure to these other metals. Therefore, arsenic and cadmium are considered when setting air quality goals and developing programs for soil testing and remediation, particularly related to vegetable gardens.

Is Trail a healthy place for children to live?

Trail is a great place to raise a family – a great place to live, play, and go to school. Retired Medical Health Officer, Dr. Nelson Ames worked for over 20 years on lead issues in Trail. Dr. Ames states “I would have no hesitation to live in Trail and I would have no hesitation to live there if I had young children.”

Air quality and children’s blood lead levels have improved significantly since our program began in 1989. Around 90% of Trail & Rivervale preschoolers have blood lead levels below 10 micrograms per decilitre compared with less than 20% in 1989.  Stack emissions of lead have reduced by 99.5% since the 1990s and Teck has a multi-year program to further reduce emissions.

We target many of our programs to families with young children or who are expecting children. This includes Healthy Families and Healthy Homes in-home visits, soil testing, and yard improvement work.  We reach out pro-actively to find all new families and expectant families in order to prevent lead exposure for all children.

Please read the Family Health and Home & Garden Fact Sheets for tips on how to minimize your family’s exposure to metals at home and in your yard. If you live in Trail or Rivervale and have children under 3 years of age, please make sure they have their blood lead levels tested each year until they reach 36 months.

If you have any concerns, please contact Jeannine Stefani, Interior Health Public Health RN at (250) 364-6223 or the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256.

What can I do to keep my family healthy?

It is important to follow good hygiene practices, like washing hands, keeping dust and dirt out of the house, damp mopping and damp dusting frequently, keeping dust down outside, and covering bare soil areas in your yard.

Our program offers in-home visits to expectant families and families with children under 3 years of age in Trail and Rivervale. Families are offered a free Healthy Home visit including a yard assessment, soil testng, and information and advice on keeping the home and yard environment healthy.

Families with children under 12 months are also offered a free Healthy Family visit from the Interior Health Public Health Registered Nurse.  This visit includes information and advice on how to support the children's health and development, and prevent their exposure to lead. Young children in Trail and Rivervale should have their blood lead levels tested each year starting from the age of 6 months and going until 36 months.  All programs are voluntary.

Interior Health Public Health RN, Jeannine Stefani, has expertise, information and supports available to families with young children.

Please read the Family Health Fact Sheet and, for more information, contact Jeannine Stefani at (250) 364-6223.

What should I do if I want to reduce dust in my home?

If you are an expectant family or family with a child 36 months or under in Trail or Rivervale, you qualify for our Healthy Homes Program. This includes an in-home visit from one of our Home & Garden team to review household hygiene and how to keep your home healthy and safe.  Call the Community Program Office at (250) 368-3256 to sign up for this free service.

Also, please read the Family Health and Home & Garden Fact Sheets on this website. If you are planning a home renovation, please check out the I'm Renovating section of the website.

The information in our Quick Tips and brochures gives good general guidance on reducing household dust.  Here are a few more details:

How often do I need to Clean?

As a general rule, damp mop, vacuum and damp dust weekly.  Every two weeks is a minimum for a good overall cleaning of floors, baseboards, windowsills, toys etc.  Areas or things that are visibly dusty, dirty or muddy need more frequent cleaning.  This includes muddy or dirty entranceways, toys or parts of the floor with visible dust.  Areas where food is prepared or eaten, and floors or surfaces where babies or toddlers spend lots of time should always be kept clean.

How Can I Clean without Stirring Up Dust?

Damp mop bare floors and damp wipe window sills, furniture, benches, toys, baseboards and other surfaces that children touch.  Dry sweeping is not recommended as it lifts dust into the air only to have some of it settle back down again.  Instead, damp mop and wipe to catch dust so it can't blow around.

For carpeted floors, we recommend using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or ducted vacuum system.  These vacuums filter fine dust particles and prevent dust from recirculating in the room. After you vacuum, some dust stays suspended in the air for a while.  Try to leave the room for about an hour after vacuuming, then come back in and damp wipe.  If you're thinking about removing carpets, it's good to know that hard floors are much easier to keep clean.

Finally, housecleaning doesn't replace the need for good family hygiene and nutrition.  Remember to wash your hands and children's hands frequently, and always before eating and when coming in from outdoors.  Leave your shoes at the door; eat regular meals high in calcium, Vitamin C, and iron; and keep doing all the other great things you do to keep your family healthy!

For more information, contact the Community Program Office at (250) 368-3256 or contact Jeannine Stefani, Interior Health Public Health RN at (250) 364-6223.

What should I do if I want to get my child’s blood lead level tested?

Please contact Jeannine Stefani, Interior Health Public Health RN at (250) 364-6223.  Interior Health conducts regular blood lead testing each September and February with the fall clinic being the main one. We target children for blood lead testing if they live or spend most of their time in Trail or Rivervale and are between the ages of 6 and 36 months.  Parents in any Lower Columbia (ie. Greater Trail) community may request blood lead testing for their child up to age 60 months. We would encourage families with young children living in homes that are being renovated or have been recently renovated to have their children tested.

Is drinking water a source of lead exposure in Trail?

Lead in drinking water is not considered a source of lead exposure in the City of Trail.  The City’s drinking water is tested regularly at its two sources and confirmed to meet all the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for metals (including lead), chemicals and other potential risks to water quality.  In addition it is confirmed that lead levels remain below the detectable limit at locations throughout the city’s distribution system. For more information, contact info@trail.ca

The Trail Community Lead Task Force studied the sources of lead in Trail, and concluded that lead in drinking water was not a concern.  More details can be found on pages 18 and 19 of: http://www.thep.ca/upload/resources/38/thep_tffinalreport_2001_original.pdf

If you have concerns about lead pipes in your home, you can have your water tested.  Click this link for a list of approved labs in BC: http://www.fraserhealth.ca/media/Approved-Laboratories-for-Drinking-Water-Microbiology-Testing_2015.pdf  Also, Health Canada provides a number of tips including running your tap first thing each morning. (See http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/pubs/water-eau/lead-plomb-eng.pdf)

FInally, if you don't know what kind of pipes you have, here is handy online tool to test whether you are likely to have lead water pipes: 

https://apps.npr.org/find-lead-pipes-in-your-home/en/#intro

Why should I get my home tested for radon?

Our program promotes radon awareness as a community service because it is an important environmental health issue.  Everyone should get their home tested for radon.  Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and cannot be smelled, tasted or seen.  It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.  Some homes in the West Kootenays test above the Health Canada guidelines and you can't predict the levels in your home, even based on test results from your neighbours.  The only way to know the exposure level in your home is to test. The best time to test for radon is over the winter when doors and windows are shut.  You need to leave the test kit in place for 3 months.  We supply radon test kits at our Community Program Office for a suggested $15 donation to cover costs.  The Donna Schmidt Memorial Lung Cancer Prevention Society provides tax receipts for the donations.

Why do different program elements apply to different geographic areas?

THE Program focuses on having the biggest impact on preventing exposure to metals and reducing health risks. For example, the Family Health Program targets families of preschoolers in Trail and Rivervale. These are the communities where blood lead levels above the typical range are most likely to occur. Our goal for reduced blood lead goal is measured against annual test results for children in these communities.  

Children's blood lead testing is offered every 5 years in Warfield, Oasis, Casino and Waneta.  Children in these communities have lower lead levels than in Trail and Rivervale; we monitor periodically to ensure that this continues to be the case and that children and families in all Lower Columbia communities receive appropriate services.

Our program also looks for ways to extend services to other people who want or need them. For instance, if you live outside Trail or Rivervale, you can request to have your young child’s blood lead tested up to the age of 60 months. Also, the Lead Safe Renovation Program offers its services to renovators of older pre-1976 homes throughout the Lower Columbia.

How is my local government involved in the health & environment program?

The Mayor of Trail chairs the Trail Area Health & Environment Committee, and there is regular representation from Warfield. Representatives from RDKB Areas A and B participate as needed. All local governments in the Lower Columbia are invited to meetings of the Trail Area Health & Environment Committee.

How can I get more involved in the program?

You can attend meetings of the Trail Area Health & Environment Committee, which are open to the public. Meeting dates & times are listed on the home page.  Also, we have a Community and Families Working Group that provides input into programs and communication with the community; this is a great way to become involved.

Please contact the Community Program Office at (250) 368-3256 and let us know how you'd like to get involved and/or to provide feedback on our programs. We'd like to hear from you!

What should I do if I want to renovate my home?

Please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256 for information on the Lead Safe Renovation Program supports and information available to you.  Also, look at the I'm Renovating section of this website for lead safe renovation videos and a description of the customized programs for Do-It-Yourselfers, contractors, and people hiring contractors. The Lead Safe Renovation Program applies to all homes in Trail and Rivervale and pre-1976 homes anywhere in Greater Trail.

What should I do if I am a building contractor or professional home renovator?

Check out the Contractor section on this website.  For more information, or to become a Trail Area Lead Safe Contractor, please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Ave. or (250) 368-3256.

What should I do if I want to landscape my yard?

Please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256 for advice on good ground cover.

What do I need to know about soil in the Trail area?

If the soil is well covered the risk is negligible. You can help to minimize risks by following good hygiene practices, like washing hands, keeping dust and dirt out of the house, keeping dust down outside, and covering bare soil areas in your yard.  You can request soil testing for your vegetable garden in Trail or Rivervale. If there are young children present or spending considerable time on a property in Trail or Rivervale, you can request soil testing for the whole yard.  Other soil testing is available case-by-case.  If soil testing shows metal levels above approved Action Levels, soil replacement will be offered.  Our studies show that the new soil we provide will recontaminate at a very slow rate such that it will retain low metal levels for many years.

If you have concerns, please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256.

Please note that the main health risks from metals in the environment come from dust, and the main risks are to young children.

What should I do if I live in an area where soil has smelter metals in it? What does it mean to live with metals in soil and dust?

The same advice applies to any situation where there are metals in soil and dust. It is important to follow good hygiene practices, like washing hands, keeping dust and dirt out of the house, keeping dust down outside, and covering bare soil areas in your yard.

Please read the Family Health Fact Sheet for tips on avoiding exposure to metals and keeping dust down in your home. Please read the Home & Garden Fact Sheet for information on soil testing, growing vegetable gardens, and reducing exposure to metals in your home and yard.

If you are planning home renovations, please contact the Community Program Office for safety information. Dust that has accumulated in your home can be released during renovations – this is particularly an issue for older homes.

If you have concerns, please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256. Please note that the main health risks from metals in the environment come from dust, and the main risks are to young children.

Is it safe for me to eat vegetables grown in my garden?

Studies have been done in Trail comparing the levels of metals in homegrown and store-bought produce. Overall, the levels are a bit higher for homegrown produce but there are also important benefits of growing and eating home-grown food.

There are things you can do to minimize exposure to metals. Always wash fruits and vegetables before eating them. You can also choose what to grow. The fruit parts of plants (e.g. tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, beans etc.) absorb very little metal from soil.

Root vegetables also absorb very little but you need to peel them before eating. With peeled veggies, the metal levels are about the same as store-bought. Leafy greens absorb more metal – and washing them gets rid of some, but not all of it.

If you are concerned, please call the Community Program Office at (250) 368-3256 and request soil testing for your vegetable garden.

What should I do if I want my garden soil tested?

Please contact the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue or (250) 368-3256. Requests for garden soil testing are prioritized for properties in Trail and Rivervale.  Requests for garden soil testing in other Lower Columbia communities are considered case-by-case; metal levels in soil are typically lower outside Trail and Rivervale.

How long does it take to get soil replaced?

Garden and yard soil replacement is offered and scheduled in priority order where soil samples indicate lead levels above our current remediation trigger levels of 1000 ppm (parts per million) for vegetable gardens and 4000 ppm for yards.

In terms of scheduling soil replacement, top priority goes to families where young children have blood lead levels above the typical range. Families with pre-school aged children are the next priority.

If yard soil replacement is indicated, it usually takes place within about 1 to 2 months from the time of testing. If soil is tested in the fall, replacement may take place early the next spring. Typically, garden soil would be replaced within 6 months of testing, either at the end of the current growing season or before the next.

The program aims to complete all scheduled soil replacement for garden and yards within a year. Depending on circumstances, it may take up to 2 years for lower priority cases. It’s important to note that the main health risks from lead come from dust, and the main risks are to young children. If soil is covered, the health risks from soil are negligible.

For more information, please refer to the questions about health risks from soil.

What should I do if I want to excavate soil in my yard?

If you are planning to excavate soil in your yard, we'd like you to contact our Community Program Office at 250 368-3256 to get your soil tested or review past soil testing results.  Also, be sure to watch Lead Safe Renovation Video 6 on Soil Excavation.

As a property owner, you can do excavation projects and work in your own yard; you can also hire a contractor to do work for you. In Trail, we recommend that you have your soil tested in good time before you start a major project that involves excavating more than a cubic metre of soil. It can take over a month to obtain soil test results, so please contact the Program Office early in the planning process to avoid delays with your project.  

Once we have soil test results, we can help provide advice on your project and we may offer soil remediation, if warranted. Please be aware that our program is not able to reimburse you or your contractor for any materials or work done on your property. Remediation can only be completed by the Trail Health & Environment Program's Approved Remediation Contractor.