GREENER LIVING with 'Dr. G'
aka Gary 'Dr. G' Ginsberg
Toxicology Expert * Consumer Advocate * Talk Radio Advisor
LEAD in SOIL
EXTERIOR LEAD PAINT was commonly used prior to 1978, similar to the use of lead-containing paint indoors. If your house has painted shingles, shutters or window frames, lead may have been peeling and chipping for decades - perhaps more than fifty years. And it's likely to have accumulated in the soil in a narrow zone within 5 feet of the house. This may not seem like a large area to worry about but it may be a sunny spot for vegetables, or where your child likes to play, or where Rover likes to dig. All of these activities will lead to you or your children getting exposed. The lead levels in soil from flaking paint can be well over 1000 ppm, quite high since the federal cleanup standard is 400 ppm.
LEAD TOXICITY - Once ingested, lead can travel to the brainandlodge there - impairing brain development. Pregnant women can pass it along to the fetus. Young children (under 3) are particularly at risk becaue of how much dirt they accidentally ingest.Lead can also affect the blood and be a risk factor for high blood pressure in adults.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) Test the soil near your home's foundation for lead. Environmental labs can tell you how to collect the sample and provide an accurate result. You may check with your local Agricultural Extension Agent - they may offer the test at reduced cost or give you testing advice.
2) Test soil away from the house that is surrounding a painted shed, fence, play house or other painted structure.
3) Areas over 400 ppm: DO NOT grow vegetables; let children play or pets dig.
4) Have the contaminated soil removed, which usually only goes down 6 inches or less - OR
5) Keep well covered with grass, stones or mulch and do not disturb
6) Keep lead from recontaminating the soil. Encapsulate the lead paint with a special coating (lead encapsulant) that bonds the old place. Use lead-safe scraping methods during any future painting or encapsulating. These jobs should be done by lead paint professionals.
NOTE: You do not need to test for or remove lead from the soil around your foundation as long as you do not disturb that soil and keep it well covered with grass, mulch or stones.
LEAD TOXICITY - Once ingested, lead can travel to the brainandlodge there - impairing brain development. Pregnant women can pass it along to the fetus. Young children (under 3) are particularly at risk becaue of how much dirt they accidentally ingest.Lead can also affect the blood and be a risk factor for high blood pressure in adults.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) Test the soil near your home's foundation for lead. Environmental labs can tell you how to collect the sample and provide an accurate result. You may check with your local Agricultural Extension Agent - they may offer the test at reduced cost or give you testing advice.
2) Test soil away from the house that is surrounding a painted shed, fence, play house or other painted structure.
3) Areas over 400 ppm: DO NOT grow vegetables; let children play or pets dig.
4) Have the contaminated soil removed, which usually only goes down 6 inches or less - OR
5) Keep well covered with grass, stones or mulch and do not disturb
6) Keep lead from recontaminating the soil. Encapsulate the lead paint with a special coating (lead encapsulant) that bonds the old place. Use lead-safe scraping methods during any future painting or encapsulating. These jobs should be done by lead paint professionals.
NOTE: You do not need to test for or remove lead from the soil around your foundation as long as you do not disturb that soil and keep it well covered with grass, mulch or stones.
