By Chris Carroll
Of The Post-Dispatch
Two young siblings with lead poisoning improved after they moved out of Herculaneum, their mother has said.

Aaron Warden, 4, and Grace Warden, 2, had the highest blood-lead measurements in Herculaneum when tested earlier this year. Health officials told the children's parents not to let them play outside, to prevent further poisoning.

But the Doe Run Co., which operates the nation's largest lead smelter in Herculaneum, bought the Wardens' house in late August, and the family had enough money to buy another house in De Soto. Since moving from their old house on Church Street on Aug. 30, the children's blood-lead levels had fallen, said Robyn Warden.

Grace's fell most dramatically, from 27 micrograms in a deciliter in July, to 17 in an October test. Aaron's blood-lead fell from 17 to 15.

The federal standard for lead poisoning is 10. Warden says she is confident that both children will continue to improve.

"I know we did the right thing," Warden said. "I think it proves that getting away from that place is best for all children, not just mine. Buyouts work."

Doe Run has bought no other houses since the Wardens', but company officials say that residents interested in being considered for a buyout may contact the company's real estate agent, Dave Collins, at 464-2000.

State compiling results

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is assembling the data gathered last month in a door-to-door canvass of nearly every house in Herculaneum. The effort was meant to learn how many children and others might be at risk from lead pollution.

Lead and other substances emitted by the Doe Run smelter are toxins that can hurt the development of the nervous system, particularly in children 6 or younger. Lead poisoning is believed to cause reduced intelligence, behavioral disorders and other health problems.

Previous attempts to define the risk to children did not receive enough participation from residents to be effective.

But the most recent survey, which started Oct. 11 and ended last week, provided more information than ever before, said an environmental specialist with the state health department.

Teams of local, state and federal employees gathered census data and took blood-lead samples from 437 adults and 183 people younger than 17.

"Our goal was to identify where gaps in our information were, to identify all the children under age 6," she said. "We're going to have an idea of where in Herculaneum the most highly-elevated blood-lead levels are. Hopefully, we'll be able to give some direction to how the cleanup should proceed."

Under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Doe Run is testing property throughout Herculaneum to see whether it is polluted with fallout from the 109-year-old smelter.

At houses where children with lead-poisoning live, Doe Run is digging up yards and replacing the dirt with clean soil.

In addition, the EPA is sampling indoor dust samples to determine whether lead pollution is seeping into houses.

A study conducted in July by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry indicated that smelter emissions had migrated into two houses tested, including the Wardens' former home.

Cancer inquiry under way

The state Department of Health and Senior Services also looking into the question of whether certain types of cancer occur more commonly in Herculaneum than elsewhere.

A committee of staff members met Tuesday to discuss initial information gathered in Herculaneum. The department should announce within two weeks whether further study of cancer in Herculaneum is warranted, said Stan Cowan, Comprehensive Cancer Control Coordinator for the state.







Published in the Jefferson County Post section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday, November 1, 2001.
Copyright (C)2001, St. Louis Post-Dispatch