Staff Report
Published Aug. 3, 2012

The city of Columbia and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control are partnering to offer free medical screenings for lead and arsenic to residents in Columbia’s South Edisto Court neighborhood.

Former Royster fertilizer site For more information about the DHEC investigation, click here. Previous coverage EPA, DHEC to probe Royster fertilizer site in Columbia

In May, DHEC was notified that arsenic was found in the soils and groundwater on part of a former fertilizer plant, the F.S. Royster Guano Co. The Edisto community is located opposite of the plant.

The medical screenings will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, at the Edisto Discovery Park Community Center, 1914 Wiley St. Screenings are open to residents living on Easy Street, Howe Street and Corning Road.

The free screenings were arranged at the request of City Councilman Moe Baddourah, District III.

“I wanted to make sure that the residents in South Edisto Court are represented well and would have access to free medical screenings. This is a partnership and we want to ensure that the needs of our citizens are met,” Baddourah said.