What is the source of the black dust in Cottonwood, Arizona?

The black dust originates from a 50-foot slag pile, a remnant of a copper smelter that operated in the town until the 1930s.

What heavy metals are found in the Cottonwood slag pile?

The slag pile contains heavy metals, including arsenic, which has raised concerns about potential health impacts.

What steps are being taken to address the slag pile contamination?

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is conducting soil testing, and community science initiatives are involving residents in collecting their own samples.

Home / Environment / Toxic Slag Dust Plagues Arizona Town

Toxic Slag Dust Plagues Arizona Town

1 Mar

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Summary

Black dust from historical slag piles contains arsenic.
Company repurposing slag faces permitting issues.
Residents fear long-term health impacts from dust.

Cottonwood, Arizona, faces environmental challenges from a large slag pile, a byproduct of a copper smelter that operated until the 1930s. This 50-foot mountain of black rock, containing heavy metals like arsenic, has become a source of concern for residents due to dust migration.

The company Minerals Research Inc. began repurposing the slag in 2015, crushing it for industrial uses. However, its operations have been marked by permitting confusion with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), leading to accusations of negligence and health worries among the community.

Recent ADEQ testing in 2024 revealed arsenic levels in soil samples significantly above state remediation levels, particularly near the slag pile and the old smelting stack site. While multiple sources for arsenic are considered, some soil samples show a unique signature matching the slag.

Community science initiatives, like the University of Arizona's Gardenroots program, are empowering residents to collect their own samples, seeking answers about indoor dust contamination, which falls outside ADEQ's direct testing scope. The long-term health effects remain a significant worry for those living near the legacy waste.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.