Originally published January 16 2006
Report shows that New Orleans' soil is contaminated by lead
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A new study published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology claims that unsafe amounts of lead now reside in the soil of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, endangering the health of children who reside in the city.
Unsafe levels of lead have been found in soil and sediments left behind in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and could pose a heightened health threat to returning residents, particularly children, according to a new study published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Lead exposure is a particular health concern among children because it can impair the nervous system and cause developmental problems.
Although lead is the biggest health concern, the scientists also found concentrations of aldrin (an insecticide), arsenic, and seven semivolatile organic compounds that exceeded EPA Region VI safe levels and are on EPA's list of known or suspected human carcinogens.
In all, the researchers analyzed the sediment and soil samples for 26 metals and more than 90 semi-volatile compounds.
Other contaminants found among samples include high levels of iron, several banned pesticides and pathogenic bacteria, but the researchers say that concentrations of most of these contaminants were unlikely to pose an immediate human health threat.
The peer-reviewed study, which represents one of the most detailed environmental sampling efforts to date following the flooding caused by Katrina, will appear in the Jan. 15 issue of ES&T.
"The purpose of this study is to gather more extensive samples and establish baseline data upon which to evaluate the long-term environmental impact of the storm," says Presley.
For the current study, the research team obtained sediment, soil, water and animal tissue samples over a three-day period (Sept. 16-18) from across a broad cross-section of the city 18 days after the hurricane struck and after most of the water had been pumped from the city.
Animal tissues sampled, including dead snakes and an alligator, also contained multiple metals and pesticides, but these levels were generally within an expected range and not likely to be caused by the hurricane, the researchers say.
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