Posted on Mar 11, 2022
Study of Kansas City lots could reveal better ways to remove dangerous lead from soil
1.33K
25
7
7
7
0
Lead levels in some Kansas City kids are 9 times higher than the national average. A new study by Kansas State University researchers is looking for cheaper ways to reduce lead exposure in soil.
A new study by Kansas State University researchers is looking at ways to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in soil in the hope of finding affordable methods that could be replicated around the country.
Ganga Hettiarachchi, a professor of soil and environmental chemistry, is leading the research with her team through a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Hettiarachchi said conversations with officials from the health department and Brownfields program in Kansas City, Missouri, made her realize the scope of the issue.
A new study by Kansas State University researchers is looking at ways to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in soil in the hope of finding affordable methods that could be replicated around the country.
Ganga Hettiarachchi, a professor of soil and environmental chemistry, is leading the research with her team through a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Hettiarachchi said conversations with officials from the health department and Brownfields program in Kansas City, Missouri, made her realize the scope of the issue.
Study of Kansas City lots could reveal better ways to remove dangerous lead from soil
Posted from kcur.org
Hazmat
Kansas City
Kansas State University
Environment
Chemicals
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 5
4
4
0
Excellent project but wonder what makes Kansas City stand out as a source of high lead levels?
(4)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen can't speak for Kansas City but Evansville In. (where I grew up) had similar areas. Here is a brief summary.
"Why is there lead in the soil in jnsc?
The EPA found that JNSC residential soils contained lead and arsenic due, in part, to air emissions from former foundries and factories that operated in the area from the late 1800’s to 1990. As of December 2018, EPA has sampled over 5,000 properties and cleaned up over 2,300 residential properties."
"Why is there lead in the soil in jnsc?
The EPA found that JNSC residential soils contained lead and arsenic due, in part, to air emissions from former foundries and factories that operated in the area from the late 1800’s to 1990. As of December 2018, EPA has sampled over 5,000 properties and cleaned up over 2,300 residential properties."
(2)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
Yes, I wish they had mentioned that in the article; naturally occurring or identified the source of lead. I wonder is it was an oversight or intentional.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Evansville In. has high lead remediation areas too.
"Did EPA find lead and arsenic in Evansville?
EPA found lead and arsenic in soils of 13 Evansville neighborhoods. EPA clean-up of residential soils is ongoing; Approximately 4,000 properties were verified as contaminated. More than half have been cleaned up.
"Did EPA find lead and arsenic in Evansville?
EPA found lead and arsenic in soils of 13 Evansville neighborhoods. EPA clean-up of residential soils is ongoing; Approximately 4,000 properties were verified as contaminated. More than half have been cleaned up.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
This is a very difficult situation to evaluate and mitigate for. In one mitigation I was involved in at a former battery plant the solution was to identify and isolate the contaminated soil and cap it in place. The people in the immediate area wanted it dug out and hauled off. It took some explaining and time for them to understand that excavating and hauling would put more contamination in the air and on their properties than careful grading and capping properly.
This situation is different, it appears to be much more complex than the one I was involved in. I hope they can find a good solution. Thanks for a good article Chip.
This situation is different, it appears to be much more complex than the one I was involved in. I hope they can find a good solution. Thanks for a good article Chip.
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google