The state Health Department says urine testing for arsenic in people who lived in two camps near sugar fields on the Big Island has found no unusually high levels.

Three years after the testing, the final government report concludes even fruit and vegetables grown in the soil with elevated arsenic levels show no more contamination than "produce found in grocery stores."

The department held an open house Monday with experts from the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for people still concerned about the results of urine testing done in 2005 and 2007.

The state now has final analysis from testing done on 33 residents at two camps in Kea'au, south of Hilo.

Testing was offered where elevated levels of arsenic were found in garden soil. The arsenic is believed to come from herbicides used in sugar cane fields from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Health officials say urine tests found no levels higher than those in people who eat seafood, seaweed, rice and other foods that contain harmless traces of arsenic.

Hawai'i soil in general has relatively high levels of arsenic naturally occurring in the islands' volcanic soil.

Higher levels in gardens near sugar fields are likely due to the use of sodium arsenite and other soil additives used in sugar production, the report said.

"This investigation could not determine if living, gardening, or playing near arsenic-contaminated soil and bringing residual soil/dirt into the home from normal household activities contributed to urine arsenic levels among participants," the report said.

It said traces of arsenic found in those tested may have resulted from eating seafood, seaweed, rice and other food. "In general, arsenic from such food sources is not considered harmful," the report said.

Despite the dismissal of concern, the report suggested garden areas that continue to be used should allow only limited access to preschool children.

It also recommended following normal safety guidelines for handling homegrown fruit and vegetables from the area, including washing and peeling and also washing hands with soap and water after gardening and before eating produce.