skyl4rk
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- Joined
- Nov 30, 2014
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There are a number of historic uses of public land that have left areas of toxic contamination.
Mining, especially historic gold mining has left processing plants with severe contamination. Agriculture has resulted in dumping of pesticides and herbicides. Military bases have left behind many types of contamination. Many areas were contaminated long ago, and anyone involved is long passed on. In the past, it was normal behavior to dump unwanted wastes in the desert or other "waste" land. In many cases, no one today may know areas that are contaminated.
The ways you can be exposed to contamination are:
Walking through contaminated soil, tracking the soil into your living area and somehow getting it on your hands or skin, or eating it. Breathing in dust during a dust storm.
It is important to be wise about where you camp and what you walk through.
Don't camp near old military bases, mining ruins or old industrial facilities. Avoid dump sites, even if it looks like it is just cans and bottles. If you see stained, discolored soil, don't camp on it or walk through it. Be suspicious of areas where people have piled soil. Don't camp downwind of these sites.
Keep your walking boots outside your living area.
I don't mean to spread panic here, but people should know that problem sites are out there.
Mining, especially historic gold mining has left processing plants with severe contamination. Agriculture has resulted in dumping of pesticides and herbicides. Military bases have left behind many types of contamination. Many areas were contaminated long ago, and anyone involved is long passed on. In the past, it was normal behavior to dump unwanted wastes in the desert or other "waste" land. In many cases, no one today may know areas that are contaminated.
The ways you can be exposed to contamination are:
Walking through contaminated soil, tracking the soil into your living area and somehow getting it on your hands or skin, or eating it. Breathing in dust during a dust storm.
It is important to be wise about where you camp and what you walk through.
Don't camp near old military bases, mining ruins or old industrial facilities. Avoid dump sites, even if it looks like it is just cans and bottles. If you see stained, discolored soil, don't camp on it or walk through it. Be suspicious of areas where people have piled soil. Don't camp downwind of these sites.
Keep your walking boots outside your living area.
I don't mean to spread panic here, but people should know that problem sites are out there.
