Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL), especially in children, have been linked to permanent neurologic defects, resulting in lowered IQ, learning disorders, and increased rates of criminal behavior and incarceration. In late 2015, Flint, Michigan declared a state of emergency due to high levels of lead in the water. According to a recent Reuters report, the rate of EBLL was nearly 6 times higher in Census Tract 6 in St. Joseph County, Indiana than in Flint. A group of 13 people at the University of Notre Dame has begun working in the community to determine why these EBLL are so high and how community members can reduce exposure to lead. From our group, teams of 6 researchers collected paint, soil, dust, and water samples from 4 homes with children who had BLL of greater than 3.5 μg/dL. These samples were tested via X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Induced Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). I tested the sample preparation procedures for the ICP experiments and assessed recovery of lead from dust wipe samples, and I carried out most of the analysis of the ICP data. The results from home samples were compared to EPA reference levels, and final reports were given to these families, highlighting the major areas of concern and possible avenues of remediation. In certain homes, children’s play areas were found to have high levels of lead in the soil; to remediate this problem, ground cover such as regular mulching or planting of groundcover was recommended. In another home, the level of lead dust in a play cubby was found to be high and total abatement of the cubby was recommended. In the future, the data gathered in this study will be used to inform policymakers in order to spark city, county, and state level action. Figure 1. In Census Tract 6, 31% of children tested had Elevated Blood Lead Levels, a major Public Health problem. Photo Credit: South Bend Tribune

Keep the lead away: Understanding the problem of lead in St. Joseph County, Indiana

255th National Meeting (2018)

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