Testing for Arsenic Levels

At the community meeting last night, several residents asked questions about whether they should be tested for exposure to arsenic.

Here is what the Centers for Disease Control says about arsenic testing:

“There are tests available to measure arsenic in your blood, urine, hair, and fingernails. The urine test is the most reliable test for arsenic exposure within the last few days. Tests on hair and fingernails can measure exposure to high levels of arsenic over the past 6-12 months. These tests can determine if you have been exposed to above-average levels of arsenic. They cannot predict how the arsenic levels in your body will affect your health.”

In the case of Swann Park, the Health Department consulted with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on April 19, within hours after learning of the test results. The Agency did not recommend an immediate urine testing effort. With few people exposed to the park in the couple of days prior to the closure of the park, and the very small chance of substantial soil ingestion, the agency staff were concerned that testing results would not directly reflect exposure to the park and could provide a false sense of safety.

The Health Department also contacted experts at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to review the Swann Park situation. As part of these conversations, all of the experts agreed that urine testing of arsenic would not be helpful or informative.

Most important, all agreed that assessing the risk of the park to city residents does not depend on urine testing.

The best way to assess the risk is to estimate the exposure to the park, and compare that with what’s known about arsenic toxicity. As we discussed at the community meeting last night, ATSDR has begun this effort.

The Health Department also asked ATSDR to make recommendations about whether hair and fingernail testing of arsenic would be worthwhile.

As soon as we hear back, we will post the answer – and arrange testing if advised. If you have questions, please feel free to call your doctor, call the Health Department via 311 or (410 396 4398) or email at bchd@baltimorecity.gov.