Lead, arsenic, mercury and other poisons are more widespread than previously thought in neighborhood park

August 9, 2007 - Lead, arsenic, mercury and other poisons are more widespread, contaminate the surrounding groundwater and require a more massive cleanup than first thought in a Westland park where children played for years, the state acknowledged Wednesday.

Central City Park has been closed since Nov. 3, days after the Free Press began asking questions about contamination at the park that city, state and county officials had known about for years but never disclosed to residents.

The latest results show high levels of arsenic, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury and methane. High levels of lead were found in two-thirds of the samples, which were taken from across the entire park, said Bob McCann, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

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