Soil intervention as a strategy for lead exposure prevention: the New Orleans lead-safe childcare playground project.
The feasibility of reducing children's exposure to lead (Pb) polluted soil in New Orleans is tested. Childcare centers (median = 48 children) are often located in former residences. The extent of soil Pb was determined by selecting centers in both the core and outlying areas. The initial 558 mg/kg median soil Pb (range 14-3692 mg/kg) decreased to median 4.1 mg/kg (range 2.2-26.1 mg/kg) after intervention with geotextile covered by 15 cm of river alluvium. Pb loading decreased from a median of 4887 μg/m(2) (454 μg/ft(2)) range 603-56650 μg/m(2) (56-5263 μg/ft(2)) to a median of 398 μg/m(2) (37 μg/ft(2)) range 86-980 μg/m(2) (8-91 μg/ft(2)). Multi-Response Permutation Procedures indicate similar (P-values = 0.160-0.231) soil Pb at childcare centers compared to soil Pb of nearby residential communities. At ∼$100 per child, soil Pb and surface loading were reduced within hours, advancing an upstream intervention conceptualization about Pb exposure prevention.
Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. howard.mielke@gmail.com
Howard W
HW
Mielke
Tina P
TP
Covington
Paul W
PW
Mielke
Fredericka J
FJ
Wolman
Eric T
ET
Powell
Chris R
CR
Gonzales
D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058735:Environmental Policy; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D055820:New Orleans; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead