Soil intervention as a strategy for lead exposure prevention: The New Orleans lead-safe childcare playground project

The feasibility of reducing children's exposure to lead (Pb) polluted soil in New Orleans is tested. Childcare centers (median =48 children) are often located in former residences. The extent of soil Pb was determined by selecting centers in both the core and outlying areas. The initial 558 mg/kg median soil Pb (range 14-3692 mg/kg) decreased to median 4.1 mg/kg (range 2.2-26.1 mg/kg) after intervention with geotextile covered by 15 cm of river alluvium. Pb loading decreased from a median of 4887 mu g/m(2) (454 mu g/ft(2)) range 603-56650 mu g/m(2) (56-5263 mu g/ft(2)) to a median of 398 mu g/m(2) (37 mu g/ft(2)) range 86-980 mu g/m(2) (8-91 mu g/ft(2)). Multi-Response Permutation Procedures indicate similar (P-values = 0.160-0.231) soil Pb at childcare centers compared to soil Pb of nearby residential communities. At similar to$100 per child, soil Pb and surface loading were reduced within hours, advancing an upstream intervention conceptualization about Pb exposure prevention. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.