SoilSHOP Event at Old Brooklyn April 5, 2023

On Saturday August 5th CLASH and the US EPA shared a tent at the Old Brooklyn Farmer's market where residents brought garden and play area soil in baggies to be tested for lead contamination.  

With a soundtrack of motorcycles and ambulances whizzing past, Shannon Walsh and Naomi Morgan tested over 30 samples using an XRF (X-ray fluorescent) machine. The XRF looked like a large plastic gun which they pointed at a plastic baggie of dirt for one minute and by xray measured the lead level of each sample.

One couple, whose home was pre-1900, had high levels. Another family was concerned because one of their three children had an elevated blood lead level based on earlier medical testing.

The EPA considers 400 ppm (parts per million) to be action level for lead in soil. Many of the samples tested on Saturday were in the 200 to 800 range.  Shannon from EPA counselled that even much lower levels can call for action. "There is no safe level of lead."

Listening to Shannon give advice about how to remedy the situation was instructive. Use raised beds with fresh dirt that's isolated from the contaminated dirt, using 6" of mulch to bare spots and take your shoes off before entering the house were among the recommendations. Reported by Molly Garfield.

Here's Shannon's interview with Channel 19