Did you know that lead-contaminated soil is a major source of lead intake for children? Urban soil is often heavily cont
aminated with lead from previous use of leaded gasoline and paints. In particular, past emissions of leaded gasoline went into the air as an aerosol and then rained out into the soil. Ingestion of the soil, or the lead contaminated house dust, causes damage to children’s developing brains, including permanent developmental delays and reduced IQ.
The optimal approach to address this problem is to identify and eliminate the major causes of lead exposure, including soil contamination. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that for every $1 invested to reduce lead hazards, society would benefit by an estimated $17 – $221. (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/1/e20161493)
Stay tuned to this site for more information about an upcoming LARC 2018 Mid-Year Campaign Drive. Your financial support will help to eliminate lead hazards from contaminated soil in the Chicagoland area.