Residents close playground after study finds toxic copper

An organization claims to have found copper contamination in a south-central Housing Authority complex playground.

Familias Unidas del Chamizal said they contacted a UTEP researcher to examine the area after they inspected the Salazar playground and neighborhood. Familias Unidas said the results of the study, which they got October, showed toxic levels of copper. The study shows copper in the soil at the playground was 1,110 parts per million, according to the CDC that’s more than 22 times what you would find in average soil.

“This poses a threat to families, especially children. Especially when they’re in close proximity to a school or a playground,” said Hilda Villegas from Familias Unidas.

“”Those numbers are quite alarming, so we felt that we needed to take action and close the park ourselves.”

Taking in high levels of copper can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, or if extremely high for a long amount of time, liver damage and even death, but the study doesn’t say how big the risk is for children at current levels.

Familias Unidas said they had contacted the Housing Authority, but say they hadn’t mentioned the environmental study or contamination concerns, but just asked to meet with officials.

“We have not been contacted by anyone, we have not been made purview to any type of environmental study that has been done at this playground site,” said Javier Camacho, the Housing Authority spokesman,

The study shows copper in the soil at the playground was 1,110 parts per million, according to the CDC that’s more than 22 times what you would find in average soil

Since, they said, Familias Unidas hasn’t presented the study HACEP has not investigated the possible contamination of the playground.

“The next step is to find the proper authorities and to guarantee us, or to do something about this,” Villegas said.

“We would certainly like to take a look at it and understand the contents that are within it and of course verify the contents that are in it so we can of course remedy any situation that needs to be done,” Camacho said.

The Salazar Community is part of HACEP’s revitalization efforts which would rebuild the community in a different part of the city by late 2018.

ABC-7 reached out to the UTEP researcher to confirm the study results but he will be out of his office until November 10.