A recent study found that about one in four U.S. households have soil contaminated with lead levels exceeding the new EPA guideline of 200 parts per million (ppm), down from 400 ppm. For homes with multiple exposure sources, nearly 40% exceed the stricter 100 ppm guideline. This contamination poses significant health risks, especially for children.

Traditional “dig and dump” remediation for the 29 million affected households could cost up to $1 trillion. A cheaper, quicker solution is “capping,” which involves covering contaminated soil with clean soil or mulch. This method can immediately reduce lead exposure, though it requires effort from homeowners to source and spread the clean soil.

Despite the scale of the issue, experts are optimistic that lead contamination is solvable. Increased awareness and action can help protect families from this hidden danger, ensuring safer environments for future generations.

SOURCE:

ScienceDaily, June 19, 2024