Journal Article

Testing Homes for Potential Sources of Lead Exposure as a High‐School Science Project

Sefchick, Evan M., Terraciano, Andrew, Dougherty, Jack R., van Geen, Alexander, Ellis, Tyler, Dusevic, Daniel

2021

Overview

High‐school students tested soil, paint, and water for lead (Pb) in a total of 80 houses in their town of Pelham, New York, where blood‐Pb data indicate relatively high levels of child exposure. All the samples were tested in the laboratory using established procedures but this was preceded by testing of soil and paint in the field with a kit by the students. The total Pb concentration in 32 of the 159 soil samples that were collected exceeded 400 ppm, the EPA standard for bare soil in residential areas where children play. Only 4 of the 118 tap water samples that were collected contained over 15 ppb Pb, with the data showing that flushing for 2 min clearly lowered Pb concentration further across the board. The highest risk of child exposure may be posed by old Pb‐based paint, however, which was detected in 9 of the 48 samples that were tested. Residents were also the least willing to let the students test or sample their paint. High‐school students could help reduce exposure in the many towns where child blood‐Pb levels remain high today by identifying sources and, while doing so, learn about environmental science and measurement from this hands‐on experience. Plain Language Summary A group of high‐school students in Pelham, New York, tested soil, paint, and water in their house and that of some of their friends and neighbors, 80 houses in total, for the toxic metal lead. The town was selected because blood monitoring data indicate relatively high levels of child exposure. The samples were all tested using well‐established methods in the laboratory but soil and paint testing was first conducted by the students themselves soon after collection using simple kits. The results show that one fifth of the collected samples contained more lead than recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for bare soil in residential areas where children play. A similar proportion of the paint samples contained very high levels of lead. A few of the tap water samples contained more lead than recommended by the U.S. EPA. Residents were all informed of these results and would probably not have found out about these health risks without the participation by the local student. By the same token, the students learned how to make some useful environmental measurements. Key Points By relying on local links, high‐school students gained access to and tested 80 houses in their neighborhood for lead in soil, paint, and water Soil, paint, and water samples exceeded regulatory standards for lead in 19%, 19%, and 3% of samples, respectively A simulation based on test results indicates that a single lead exceedance is more likely to come with another exceedance in the same house

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Subject: Blood / Children & youth / citizen‐science / Drinking water / Exposure / Geohealth / Houses / Lead / lead exposure / Mass spectrometry / Medical laboratories / paint / Public Health / Residential areas / Scientific imaging / soil / Students / water / Water analysis / Water sampling