Blue soil - what would that mean?
 

This was just sent to me with the question; How would you feel if this were your home?

Not very well, thank you.:eek:

http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/michigan/MID985574227.htm

Yikes!

Blue states, red states.....

Sounds like it's under control. I wouldn't plant a vegetable garden in my backyard, but wouldn't have any concerns living over such contamination.

"The Health Department analysis found high concentrations of cyanide in the soils and tentatively identified the blue material as ferric ferrocyanide or Prussian blue cyanide. The blue material also was seeping into the basement of the home and was found in several lots, adjacent to the original site in the 400 block of North Drive."

It is not just localized to the soil. Contaminants in soil can move very readily with the water table and in this case is coming into peoples homes. If you think that cyanide is no big deal to be exposed to then you are more of a man than I am.

Cyanide breaks down in soil very quickly. Its actually a good fertilizer. Test the soil in a bean field sometime, because they are nitrogen fixing, they generate a substantial amount of cyanide at their roots.

The remediation process is pretty easy.

Who am I? A chemist and an Alaska State Certified Contaminated Site Tech.
Troy

That would mean if you peed on the dirt it would turn green...sweet!

The MSDS indicates that ferric ferrocyanide mouse oral LD50 is 8g/kg and has no overt hazard indications. But for me the compelling issue is that the ferric ferrocyanide is still present in high concentrations (re: has not broken down) and is leaching into surrounding areas.

What method is the remediation accomplished?

Chemist and Chemical Safety Officer

Not very toxic. THe remediation is in-situ oxidation or water extraction through an established well.
Troy

Its commonly a pigment used in lettering enamels. Not a carcinogen, no target organs, down mix it with strong acids. The LD50 for ingestion is pretty high.

Hugh R
Certified Industrial Hygienist

Still, it isn't what I want in my kids drinking water. Do you?

I wouldn't let the kids play in a blue sandbox full of the stuff.

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid I played in lots of dirt.