Abstract
This study was designed primarily to evaluate the effectiveness of landscape coverings to reduce the potential for exposure to lead-contaminated soil in an urban neighborhood. Residential properties were randomized in to three groups: application of ground coverings/barriers plus placement of a raised garden bed (RB), application of ground coverings/barriers only (no raised bed, NRB), and control. Outcomes evaluated soil lead concentration (employing a weighting method to assess acute hazard soil lead [areas not fully covered] and potential hazard soil lead [all soil surfaces regardless of covering status]), density of landscape coverings (6=heavy, >90% covered; 1=bare, <10% covered), lead tracked onto carpeted entryway floor mats, and entryway floor dust lead loadings. Over 1 year, the intervention groups had significantly reduced acute hazard soil lead concentration (median change: RB, -478ppm; NRB, -698ppm; control, +52ppm; Kruskal-Wallis, P=0.02), enhanced landscape coverings (mean change in score: RB, +0.6; NRB, +1.5; control, -0.6; ANOVA, P<0.001), and a 50% decrease in lead tracked onto the floor mats. The potential hazard soil lead concentration and the entryway floor dust lead loading did not change significantly. Techniques evaluated by this study are feasible for use by property owners but will require continued maintenance. The long-term sustainability of the method needs further examination.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 127-138 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Environmental Research |
Volume | 96 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2004 |
Funding
We thank Jack Morgan, Ph.D., Illinois Department of Public Health Environmental Laboratory, Chicago, IL, for sample analysis and Edwin Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, for statistical review. We also thank Peter J. Ashley, Ph.D., US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, Washington, D.C., for project guidance, particularly related to the use of entryway floor mats as an evaluation tool. This project was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Grant ILLHR0067-99.
Keywords
- Intervention
- Landscape
- Lead-contaminated soil
- Residential yards
- Soil lead hazard
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Environmental Science
- Biochemistry