scholarly journals Assessment of the Presence of Soil Lead Contamination Near a Former Lead Smelter in Mombasa, Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bret Ericson ◽  
Victor Odongo Otieno ◽  
Cecelia Nganga ◽  
Judith St. Fort ◽  
Mark Patrick Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Lead Smelter ◽  
Soil Lead

Background. The informal settlement of Owino Uhuru near an abandoned lead smelter attracted international attention due to an apparent lead poisoning event. Despite this attention, the environmental data collected to date do not indicate high levels of residual contamination. Objectives. To further confirm previous findings and determine any necessary risk mitigation measures, an assessment of surface soil lead concentrations was conducted in the community. Methods. Investigators carried out an assessment of the soil in a ~12,000 m2 section of the Owino Uhuru neighborhood over the course of a single day in June 2017 with the assistance of community leaders. Fifty-nine in situ soil measurements were taken using an Innov-X tube-based (40 kV) alpha X-ray fluorescence instrument (pXRF). Results. The assessment found that mean surface soil lead concentrations in areas conducive to exposure were 110 mg/kg (95% CI: 54–168); below United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Environment Canada screening levels of 400 mg/kg and 140 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions. There is likely no current need for risk mitigation activities in the community. These results could inform discussions on the allocation of public health spending. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests. BE, VOO, CN and JSF are employees of Pure Earth. MPT sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Health and Pollution.

Determination of Lead Contamination in Urban Soil, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 842 ◽  
pp. 473-477
Author(s):  
Saw Aung Zaw Aye ◽  
Heru Hendrayana ◽  
Doni Prakasa Eka Putra ◽  
Tsutomu Sato
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Soil ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Soil Lead ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Yogyakarta City

Lead (Pb) is one of common heavy metal that has been shown to be very useful tracers of environmental pollution. The consequences of urbanization process can cause not only economic growth but also negatively impact on the quality of water and soil. Therefore the objective of this research is to know the potential contamination of lead in soil of urban area. The soil samples were conducted by batch leaching experiment. In surface soil, lead in soil of Pakem area varies from 2.01ppm to 5.13 ppm with average value of 3.02 ppm and Merapi area ranges from 1.84 ppm to 3.41ppm with average value of 2.42 ppm. In urban area, lead varies from 4.18 to 14.88 ppm with average of 9.93 ppm. Lead in urban soil is higher than Pakem and Merapi soil. The potential contamination of lead in urban soil is occurred with respect to urbanization and human activities. The value of lead is shown with the average of 3 ppm for Caturtunggal, Depok District, 6.53 ppm in Mantrijeron District and 9.82 ppm for Kotagede District in Yogyakarta city. The result of lead distribution in Kotagede District is the highest concentrated and it is followed by Mantrijeron District and Caturtunggal, Depok District.

Addressing Health Inequities in South Chattanooga: Lead Contamination and Childhood Lead Poisoning

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Dawn Ford ◽  
Rosa Cantu ◽  
Zachary North ◽  
Tes Cherian ◽  
Kavina Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Soil Lead ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
University Of Tennessee ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
Health Fairs ◽  
The Impact

Soil lead contamination is an environmental health risk that greatly affects children in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site was added to the National Priorities List in late 2018 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has designated the clean-up threshold for soil lead contamination to be equal to or over 360 parts per million. For the EPA to conduct soil testing and proceed with clean-up, a signed access authorization letter from the tenant or property owner must be submitted. As of 7 May 2019, there are still 4371 properties to test with an estimated 1100 expected to be above the remediation threshold. Despite mailing the letters and having several public meetings, the rate of return is approximately thirty percent for access authorization forms. To increase the response rate, local non-profit agencies, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Lions Club, and the UTC Master’s in Public Health program have been involved in educating the community. Efforts include community health fairs, grant-funded community-based blood lead testing for children, and a door-to-door canvassing campaign where residents are informed of the issue, provided with educational materials, and asked to sign and return access authorization letters to the EPA. The impact of community engagement is measured by the number/proportion of residents engaged, the number of signed authorization forms submitted, and the number of children tested for elevated blood lead levels. This poster presentation will discuss lead contamination in Chattanooga, and the results of our engagement work in the community.

scholarly journals Assessing the Presence of Soil Lead Contamination on the Premises of Air Liquide Ghana Limited in Tema, Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Prince M. Gyekye ◽  
Adams Sadick ◽  
Felix O. Ababio ◽  
Mohammed Musah ◽  
Calys Tagoe Edward
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Absorption ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Soil Lead ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Concentration Levels ◽  
Over Time

A study was conducted to determine the extent of site contamination by Lead (Pb) present in the soil on the premises of Air Liquide Ghana Limited, and give the appropriate recommendation for decontamination, where necessary. Eighteen (18) soil samples were collected from the study area using an augur. The geographical coordinates and elevations of the samples were recorded with the GPS. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. In the absence of present standards from the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), both the Dutch List and the International List standard were used to evaluate the concentration levels of Pb in the soil. Results from the analysis revealed that the concentration of lead (Pb) initially exceeded the international threshold of the Dutch intervention value of 530 mg/kg in some sample areas. Nine locations of the sample areas where diesel was being stored, S2-Diese Tank and Smoking Area S5-Smoking Area recorded values of 636.4 mg/kg and 602 respectively which is above the recommended threshold. The control recorded below the threshold value of 530 mg/kg. The study also showed that Lead compounds attached to soil particles took a shorter time to break down to reduce the levels of concentration over time.

scholarly journals Travel Demand Prediction during COVID-19 Pandemic: Educational and Working Trips at the University of Padova

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6596
Author(s):  
Riccardo Ceccato ◽  
Riccardo Rossi ◽  
Massimiliano Gastaldi
Keyword(s):  
Travel Demand ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Great Part ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Sustainable Mobility ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Demand Prediction ◽  
Travel Decisions ◽  
The University

The diffusion of the COVID-19 pandemic has induced fundamental changes in travel habits. Although many previous authors have analysed factors affecting observed variations in travel demand, only a few works have focused on predictions of future new normal conditions when people will be allowed to decide whether to travel or not, although risk mitigation measures will still be enforced on vehicles, and innovative mobility services will be implemented. In addition, few authors have considered future mandatory trips of students that constitute a great part of everyday travels and are fundamental for the development of society. In this paper, logistic regression models were calibrated by using data from a revealed and stated-preferences mobility survey administered to students and employees at the University of Padova (Italy), to predict variables impacting on their decisions to perform educational and working trips in the new normal phase. Results highlighted that these factors are different between students and employees; furthermore, available travel alternatives and specific risk mitigation measures on vehicles were found to be significant. Moreover, the promotion of the use of bikes, as well as bike sharing, car pooling and micro mobility among students can effectively foster sustainable mobility habits. On the other hand, countermeasures on studying/working places resulted in a slight effect on travel decisions.

Preliminary assessment of surface soil lead concentrations in Melbourne, Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 637-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. S. Laidlaw ◽  
Callum Gordon ◽  
Andrew S. Ball
Keyword(s):  
Surface Soil ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Soil Lead

Recent technical advancement in natural terrain landslide risk mitigation measures in Hong Kong

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian S H Kwan ◽  
Harris W K Lam ◽  
Charles W W Ng ◽  
Nelson T K Lam ◽  
S L Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Landslide Risk ◽  
Natural Terrain

Lead Levels, Home Dust, and Proximity to Lead Smelters

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-603
Author(s):  
Philip J. Landrigan
Keyword(s):  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Elevated Blood ◽  
Lead Smelter ◽  
Soil Lead ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Elevated Blood Lead Levels

The article by Kimbrough et al (Pediatrics. 1995;95:550-554) concerning a survey of blood lead levels among children residing near a closed, heavily contaminated lead smelter found that 78 of 490 preschoolers (16%) had blood lead levels at or above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention action level of 10 µg/dL. By contrast, the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among all preschool children in the United States is 8.9%.1 Kimbrough et al found that blood lead levels were positively correlated with home dust lead levels, soil lead levels, hours of outdoor play, and levels of lead in indoor paint.

scholarly journals Chronic Environmental and Occupational Lead Exposure and Kidney Function among African Americans: Dallas Lead Project II

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Reilly ◽  
Susan Spalding ◽  
Brad Walsh ◽  
Jeanne Wainer ◽  
Sue Pickens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Kidney Function ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Blood Lead Level ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Lead Smelter ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Negative Effect

Background: We examined the effects of lead on kidney function in occupationally and environmentally exposed adults from a Dallas lead smelter community that was the site of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund clean-up. All subjects were African Americans—a racial group that bears a disproportionate burden of kidney disease. Methods: A two-phase health screening was conducted. Phase II included a physical examination and laboratory tests. Study subjects were African Americans residents, aged ≥19 years to ≤89 years. Of 778 subjects, 726 were environmentally exposed and 52 were both occupationally and environmentally exposed. The effects of lead exposure on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were examined in three groups: male and female smelter-community residents, as well as males with both occupational and environmental exposure. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the dependence of eGFR on log (blood lead level), duration of residence in the community, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Results: There was a statistically significant negative effect on kidney function for all three groups. Comparison of female and male residents showed a slightly larger negative effect of blood lead level on eGFR in females versus males, with the largest effect seen in male smelter-working residents. For each unit increase (log10 10µg/dL = 1) in blood lead level, age-adjusted eGFR was reduced 21.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 in male residents, 25.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 in female residents and 59.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 in male smelter-working residents. Conclusions: Chronic lead exposure is associated with worsening kidney function in both African American male and female residents, as well as male workers in Dallas smelter communities. This effect is slightly, but not statistically significantly, worse in female residents than male residents, and significantly worse in males that both worked and resided in the smelter community.

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