May 18th, 2005

Following a study on soil in a children’s play area, El Dorado Hills residents are not convinced that the Environmental Protection Agency has produced any particularly convincing results from the study. The EPA performed the last tests a few weeks ago, whereby EPA officials in safety gear ‘played’ in the area, riding bikes and playing in the sand pit. This was to raise some dust from their play in order to see whether the children that normally play in the area are at risk from naturally occurring asbestos in the ground.

Last week, the EPA concluded that the dust created from this play area was enough to increase the risk of asbestos related cancers and illnesses. However, over thirty thousand residents from the area remain unconvinced and state that the conclusion drawn by the EPA is at best an exaggeration.

This claim by residents was expressed at a public hearing last week, despite the EPA’s insistence that even reduced exposure over a longer period as the children play in the area can increase the risks of health problems.

However, the chief environment officer for El Dorado County stated that the report issued by the EPA was sloppy and designed only to alarm residents. He also added that more needs to be learned about the risks of naturally occurring asbestos before any firm conclusions such as those drawn by the EPA can be taken seriously.