The St. Louis Smelting and Refining Site, formerly known as the Collinwoods subdivision site, is located on the northeast side of the city of Collinsville. The site encompasses Pine Lake, Pine Lake subdivision, portions of Collinwoods subdivision and portions of California Avenue.

Between 1904 and 1933, the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company operated a lead smelter at the location that is now home to the Collinwoods and Pine Lake subdivisions. Historical maps indicate that the facility’s main operations occurred on approximately 24 acres east of Pine Lake and north of Pine Lake Road.

Lead levels near the smelter may pose a health hazard, particularly to children, if ingested or inhaled in sufficient quantities. Individuals can be exposed to lead by breathing contaminated dust, by swallowing contaminated soil, and by eating unwashed food that was grown in contaminated soil.

Exposure to contaminated soil is more dangerous to young children because of their frequent hand-to-mouth activity and their increased susceptibility to lead. Dust from contaminated soil can be tracked into the house on shoes and can end up on indoor surfaces and toys.

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in the human body. The area of the body that is the most sensitive to lead is the central nervous system, particularly in children. Unborn children can also be exposed to lead through their mothers. Harmful effects include premature births, smaller babies, decreased mental ability in infants, learning difficulties, and reduced growth in young children. These effects are more common after exposure to high levels of lead.

If lead contaminated soil exists around your home, you should take the following measures to protect your family from exposure:

1. Practice good hygiene habits.
   Wash children’s hands and faces frequently, especially before eating and bed time. Keep their fingernails clean and short. Adults should wash their hands before feeding their children, smoking, eating or drinking. Discourage children from placing fingers and non-food items in their mouths. Frequently clean toys or objects that children put in their mouths.
2. Practice good housekeeping techniques.
   Remove your shoes upon entering your home to prevent tracking contaminated soil inside. Store your outdoor shoes at entryways.
   Vacuum your carpeting, rugs and upholstery often. Regular vacuuming will keep dust from accumulating.
3. Create barriers to contaminated soil.
   Removing debris, turning over the soil, sodding, covering with plastic or cement or excavating and disposing of contaminated soil will reduce exposure. The area should be kept moist while working with the soil to reduce dust formation. Ensure that the new soil is not contaminated. Do not disturb contaminated soil on windy days or when children or pregnant women are present.
   Keep windows closed on windy days, at least on the windward side of the house. This will help to keep dust from being blown inside. Fences, bushes and grass help reduce the dispersion of contaminated soil. Thoroughly wash garden vegetables before eating them.
4. Don’t let children play or dig in contaminated soil.
   Build a sandbox with a bottom and fill it with clean sand to provide children with a safe play area.
5. Don’t let children play or dig in potentially contaminated sediments.
   Do not allow children to play in the mud or sediments in drainage ways, in Pine Lake or in the Unnamed Pond located east of the Pine Lake Road cul-de-sac.

Based on the lead levels in the soil near the former St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company property, IDPH is recommending that all children six years old and younger that live or spend much of their time in the area have their blood tested for lead. All homes near and within the former company property have been sent a letter with this recommendation.

Testing your child is the only way to determine their lead exposure. All results are confidential. If you have your child’s blood lead tested, please request that a copy of the results be marked as confidential and sent to:

Dave Webb
IDPH Edwardsville Regional Office
22 Kettle River Road
Glen Carbon, IL 62034