Background: The communities of Dalnegorsk and Rudnaya Pristan are the center of mining and metals production in the Primorye region of the Russian Far East. Lead ore was mined and processed in Dalnegorsk and the concentrates transported by rail to Rudnaya Pristan for smelting. Until closure in 2006, this was the only operating primary lead smelter in Russia and was a principal recycler of submarine batteries from the Russian Navy. Exposures are compounded by lead concentrates spilled throughout the railroad rights-of-way which parallel the Rudnaya River. The river and port areas on the Sea of Japan are also highly contaminated from years of mine and mill discharges. Severely contaminated submarine battery casings were also scattered throughout town and are used by local residents to build trails, fences, garages, and rain cisterns, and for containers to feed cattle and domestic birds. Residents also grow up to 60% of their food in local kitchen gardens and dachas that are often contaminated.

Approximately 57,000 people are at risk of lead poisoning in Dalnegorsk, Rudnaya Pristan and neighboring villages. Residents have multiple health problems possibly associated with high levels of industrial pollution. Children in Rudnaya Pristan have the highest rates of respiratory problems in the region. There are reports of abnormal levels of basophilic stippling and abnormal formation of blood cells among school-aged children in the lower Rudnaya Valley. Russian studies showed that Rudnaya Pristan residents have 4.9 times higher rates of lung and stomach cancer, and 33 times higher rates of cancers of blood forming tissues compared to the nearby non-industrial town of Terney, home of the last remaining Siberian tigers.

TG International Initiative Activities: From 1997-2001 TerraGraphics and the University of Idaho collaborated with Far East University and Russian government scientists in several environmental investigations of the Rudnaya Valley. The studies revealed high concentrations of lead in soil, water, dust, and home-grown fruits and vegetables. Soil lead concentrations in Rudnaya Pristan and some areas of Dalnegorsk varied between 500 and 10,000 mg/kg. Initial testing revealed that children's blood lead levels were 8 to 20 times the maximum allowable U.S. levels. In 2006, this site was named one of the top ten most polluted places in the world according to the Blacksmith Institute and the smelter shut down soon after data blood lead levels were made public.

Cleanup activities were initiated in 2007 using existing government and university institutions. The project was jointly funded by GreenCross of Switzerland, the Blacksmith Institute and the TerraGraphics/University of Idaho International Initiative. TerraGraphics designed, and provided technical oversight for the cleanup and health response strategy. The Project was implemented through a local NGO, the Far East Environmental Health Fund, which reimbursed local municipal workers to undertake remediation and health response activities. The strategy was based on the Coeur d'Alene Basin model and included a public awareness campaign; coordinating blood lead testing; and gaining the cooperation of local organizations, newspapers, and schools for project implementation. A blood lead monitoring and health intervention program was established through local clinics. Follow-up sampling and home visits were conducted stressing the importance of hygiene to reduce lead exposure. Soil remediation and cleanup has been accomplished at local schools, parks, playgrounds and common use areas. About 600 children are currently being monitored and 40% decreases in blood lead levels have been noted since initiating the program.

• Blacksmith Institute: Rudnaya River Valley Lead Exposure Mitigation
• Green Cross
• Far Eastern Environmental Health Fund
• Russia Poster
• Russia Report