Silvermines Final Report V10b

FULL MAPS ETC... http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/publications/1996- 1999/reportoftheinvestigationintothepresenceandinfluenceofleadinthesilverminesareaofcountytipperary/ Report of the Investigation into the Presence and Influence of Lead in the Silvermines area of County Tipperary Foreword The Inter-Agency Group is pleased to present to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development its Report of the Investigation into the Presence and Influence of Lead in the Silvermines area of County Tipperary. The Report is the product of almost twelve months work by the Group and the agencies which participated in it. I would like to thank my colleagues on the Group for their sustained effort, commitment and co-operation over the almost twelve month period of the investigation. I would like to acknowledge also the contributions of the many others in each of the participating agencies whose particular knowledge, skills and competencies were essential to the conduct of the investigation. On behalf of the Group, I would like to particularly thank the people of the Silvermines area, without whose consistent goodwill and co-operation an investigation of this type would not have been possible. Finally in presenting its Report to the Minister and discharging its remit, the Group believes that implementation of the Recommendations contained herein will address the issues of concern which it has identified. Aidan Murray Chairman, Inter-Agency Group Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development June 2000 2 Executive Summary 7 Introduction 7 The Area 7 Lead in Humans 7 International Guidelines for Lead in Soil 8 Human Health 8 Animal health 8 Drinking Water and Food 8 Environmental Monitoring 9 Rivers and streams 9 Sediment in rivers and streams 9 Mining-related sites 9 Dust monitoring 9 Soil, Herbage, Fodder and Water (for animals) 9 Management of mining-related sites 10 Overall Conclusions 10 Overall Recommendations 10 Human Health 10 Animal Health 11 Food Safety 11 Soils, Herbage (grass), Fodder & Animal Drinking Water 12 Rivers, Streams, Sediment & Dust Monitoring 12 Mining-Related Sites 12 Implementation of Recommendations 12 References 14 Chapter 1 15 Introduction 15 1.1 Origins of the Investigation 15 1.2 Conduct of the Investigation and Details of Participating Agencies. 15 1.3 Area of Investigation 16 1.4 Occurrence of Lead in the Silvermines Area 17 1.4.1 Former mine workings and tailings facilities 17 1.5 Mineral Ownership 17 1.6 Obligations Under The Minerals Development Acts, 1940-1999 18 1.7 Obligations Under Other Enactments 18 1.8 Limitations of the Investigation 19 1.9 References 19 Appendix 1.1 20 Chapter 2 22 Lead in Humans – National and International Experience 22 2.1 Lead and health 22 2.2 Changing Perception Of Lead 22 2.2.1 Acceptable lead concentrations in humans 22 2.2.2 Acceptable lead concentrations in drinking water 23 2.3 Lead In Soil and Human Health 23 2.3.1 US EPA national guidelines for lead hazards in soil 23 2.3.2 Lead from mining areas and human health 24 2.4 Baseline Irish Data Regarding Lead Concentrations 25 2.5 International Data Regarding Lead Concentrations 25 2.5.1 Survey of blood lead concentrations in the population in England (1995) 25 2.5.2 Alspac study on lead in children (1994) 25 2.5.3 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 25 2.6 Conclusion 25 2.7 References 26 Chapter 3 27 Environmental monitoring 27 3.1 Introduction 27 3.2 Rivers and Streams 27 3 3.2.1 Biological monitoring results 27 3.2.2 Physico-chemical monitoring results 28 3.2.3 Additional surface water monitoring on Kilmastulla and Yellow rivers and tributaries 29 3.2.4 Conclusions on river and stream water quality 29 3.2.5 Recommendations 29 3.3 River and Stream Sediment Sampling 30 3.3.1 Investigation methodology 30 3.3.2 River and stream sediment results 30 3.3.3 Conclusion on lead in river and stream sediments 30 3.3.4 Recommendations 30 3.4 Monitoring of Historical Mine Sites 31 3.4.1 Conclusions 31 3.4.2 Recommendations 32 3.5 Dust Deposition Monitoring 32 3.5.1 Introduction 32 3.5.2 Investigation Objectives 32 3.5.3 Methodology 32 3.5.4 Monitoring results 33 3.5.5 Conclusions 33 3.5.6 Recommendations 33 3.6 References 34 Appendix 3.1 35 Appendix 3.2 35 Appendix 3.3 36 Appendix 3.4 36 Appendix 3.5 37 Appendix 3.6 40 Appendix 3.7 43 Appendix 3.8 45 Appendix 3.9 46 Chapter 4 51 Lead In Soils, Herbage, Fodder, And Water 51 4.1 Introduction 51 4.2 Soils of the Silvermines Area 51 4.3 Lead and Other Metals in Soil 51 4.4 Impact Of Lead and Zinc Mining On Grassland Agriculture 51 4.5 Lead Pollution Incidents In Silvermines - 1985 52 4.6 Scope Of The Current Investigation 52 4.7 Investigations and Methodology 52 4.8 Results And Discussion 54 4.8.1 Exploratory investigation 54 4.8.1.1 Soils 54 4.8.1.2 Herbage 54 4.8.2 Extensive investigation 54 4.8.2.1 Soils 54 4.8.2.2 Geographic distribution of heavy metals in soils 55 4.8.2.3 Soil fertility and the impact of lead 55 4.8.2.4 Lead in Silvermines school play area 56 4.8.2.5 Herbage 56 4.8.2.6 Silage and hay 57 4.8.2.7 Water 57 4.8.2.8 Recent outbreak on Farm B 58 4.9 Conclusions 58 4.10 Recommendations 58 4.11 References 58 Chapter 5 60 Human Health Investigation 60 5.1 Introduction 60 5.2 Methodology 60 4 5.3 Results 61 5.3.1 Blood testing 61 5.3.1.1 Pre-school children 61 5.3.1.2 Primary school children 62 5.3.1.3 Farms 63 5.3.1.4 Adults 63 5.3.2 Questionnaires 64 5.3.2.1 Adult questionnaire 64 5.3.2.2 Child questionnaire 64 5.4 Discussion 65 5.5 Conclusions 65 5.6 Recommendations 65 5.7 References 66 Appendix 5.1 67 Appendix 5.2 70 Chapter 6 71 Assessment Of Drinking Water And Food Produce From Study Area 71 6.1 Introduction 71 6.2 Drinking Water, Fruit And Vegetables 71 6.2.1 Background 71 6.2.2 Methodology 71 6.2.3 Relevant legislation 71 6.2.4 Results 72 6.2.4.1 Drinking water 72 6.2.4.2 Fruit and Vegetables 72 6.2.5 Conclusions 72 6.2.6 Recommendations 72 6.2.7 References 73 6.2.8 Acknowledgements 73 6.3 Milk and Meat 73 6.3.1 Scope of the investigation 73 6.3.2 Investigation methodology 73 6.3.3 Results 73 6.3.3.1 Milk analysis results 73 6.3.3.2 Tissue analysis results 74 6.3.4 Conclusions 74 6.3.4.1 Milk 74 6.3.4.2 Meat - muscle 74 6.3.4.3 Meat - liver and kidney 74 6.3.5 Recommendations 74 6.3.5.1 Milk 74 6.3.5.2 Meat - liver and kidney 74 Chapter 7 76 Animal Health Investigations 76 7.1 Introduction 76 7.1.1 Background 76 7.1.2 Lead poisoning cases in the Silvermines area in 1999/2000 76 7.1.3 Clinical signs and diagnosis of lead poisoning 77 7.1.4 Sources of lead 77 7.2 Scope and Methodology of Investigation 78 7.3 Results 78 7.3.1 Blood analysis 79 7.3.2 Tissue analysis results 79 7.3.3 Relationship between animal and environmental lead concentrations 79 7.3.4 Animal health 80 7.4 Discussion 81 7.4.1 Blood and tissue analysis results 81 7.4.2 Animal health 81 7.4.3 Sources of recent outbreaks of lead poisoning in the Silvermines area 82 5 7.4.4 Relationship between environmental lead and concentrations in animal blood and tissues 83 7.5 Conclusions 83 7.6 Recommendations 84 7.7 Acknowledgements 84 7.8 References 84 Appendix 7.1 86 Appendix 7.2 87 Chapter 8 88 Mining-Related Sites and Future Management 88 8.1 Background 88 8.2 Mogul Tailings Management Facility at Gortmore, Ballywilliam. 88 8.2.1 Historical background 88 8.2.2 Analysis of the tailings at the TMF 89 8.2.3 Developments during 1999/2000 89 8.2.4 Future rehabilitation and management of the TMF at Gortmore 89 8.3 Interim Management of the TMF at Gortmore 90 8.4 Magcobar Mine Site 90 8.5 Shallee Lead Mine 90 8.6 Mining Complex At Garryard 91 8.7 Mining Complex at Silvermines Village 91 8.8 Extent of Specialist Studies 91 8.9 Discussion 91 8.10 Recommendations 91 8.11 References 92 Appendix 8.1 93 Summary of plans and future actions for Gortmore TMF 93 Appendix 8.2 94 Schedule for completion of Specialist Studies 94 Appendix 8.3 95 Monitoring and Emergency Plan for Gortmore TMF 95 Chapter 9 99 Conclusions and Recommendations 99 9.1 Discussion 99 9.2 Conclusions 99 9.2.1 Human Health 99 9.2.2 Animal Health 100 9.2.3 Food Safety 100 9.2.4 Soil, Herbage, Fodder and Drinking Water (for animals) 101 9.2.5 The Local Environment 101 9.2.6 Mine Workings 101 9.2.7 The Inter-Agency Approach 102 9.2.8 Implementation 102 9.3 Recommendations 102 9.3.1 Human Health 102 9.3.2 Animal Health 103 9.3.3 Food Safety 103 9.3.4 Soils, Herbage, Fodder & Animal Drinking Water (for animals) 104 9.3.5 Rivers, Streams, Sediment & Dust Monitoring 104 9.3.6 Mine Workings 104 9.3.7 Implementation of Recommendations 105 Glossary of Terms 106 List of Maps 107 6 Executive Summary INTRODUCTION In early 1999, three cattle died from lead poisoning on a farm adjacent to the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility (TMF) in Silvermines, Co.

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