Abstract
Airborne Pb settles out and accumulates on the ground. In this way soil has become a major reservoir of Ph. The New Orleans Lead study is based on previous empirical studies of several cities. None of the cities are mining towns nor do they have primary smelting facilities. The first study was conducted in Baltimore, MD, and showed that the location of soil Pb is related to urban geography, with the highest levels clustered within the inner-city. The statistical measure of inner-city clustering was extremely significant (p-value<10−23). Research in Minnesota confirmed the fact that amount of soil Pb is a function of city location and furthermore, that the amount of soil Pb is a function of city size. In Minnesota, two independent projects undertaken in Minneapolis and St. Paul provided information to refine collection techniques. It was concluded that 10 to 15 samples, collected from the top 2 cm soil surface, organized by sample type, and stratified by census tract, were sufficient to map a city. The techniques are being applied to New Orleans and preliminary data confirm fundamental differences (p-value ⋘ 10−6) between various communities. A method for mapping soil Pb in residential communities of urban environments has been achieved.
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Mielke, H.W. Lead in residential soils: background and preliminary results of New Orleans. Water Air Soil Pollut 57, 111–119 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282874
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282874