MAP tests soils for lead
Muncie Action Plan is the result of extensive research and discussions to determine the needs of the community. The following are just a few of the activities included in the June MAP newsletter. For more information, visit the website muncieactionplan.org.
Muncie and lead, what you need to know
Muncie Action Plan is working to improve the quality of place in our community. While exploring all the barriers to improving kindergarten readiness, we were startled by the impact lead poisoning has on developing brains. As a community in the Rust Belt, we had to ask: Could lead contamination be a factor here?
In looking at Delaware County’s testing results for elevated blood lead levels (BLLs), we discovered that in 2014, 7 percent of the children tested had elevated BLLs. The national average of children with elevated BLLs of 5 micrograms per deciliter or more is 2.6 percent. Our community’s average was more than twice that amount. We really wanted to understand this fact better and make sure that elevated BLLs are not one more obstacle hindering children’s success in school and in life.
We also wanted to be sure that, as we are engaging community members in activities that increase children’s contact with soil (through pocket parks and community gardens initiatives), we were not putting families at risk. Like most Rust Belt communities, Muncie has a history with lead, and it seemed possible that people were coming into contact with lead in Muncie’s dirt. In order to keep people safe, we decided this would be our first line of exploration.
MAP Board members John M. Craddock, director emeritus, Muncie Bureau of Water Quality, Muncie Sanitary District; Jenni Marsh, president and CEO of United Way of Delaware County; Ginny Nilles, director of Muncie Public Library; and Terry Whitt Bailey, director of community development city of Muncie, are collaborating with Carrie Bale of BY5, Mayor Dennis Tyler, and Indra Frank of the Hoosier Environmental Council to explore lead exposure in Delaware County.
Sites were selected throughout every local zip code and at multiple neighborhood schools, pocket parks, and community gardens. Samples were taken in every Center Township zip code. Preliminary results are in and all soil samples came in well below the EPA’s threshold of 400 parts per million. Does this mean lead isn’t a problem? Not necessarily, it's just not a problem where we tested. It is encouraging that there were no areas of great concern in this preliminary pool of soil samples.
How can people protect themselves from lead?
If you live in a house constructed before 1978, your building may have lead-based paint and lead interior drinking water pipes. The best rule of thumb is to presume your home has lead-based paint and prohibit dangerous practices that create lead dust, such as chipped or peeling paint.
If lead hazards are discovered, property owners must correct them. Home repairs and projects that disturb paint (such as repairing/replacing windows, working with walls with cuts through plaster and wall board) must be done by a renovator trained in lead-safe work practices. Be sure to seal off work areas to minimize dust escaping from worksite and minimize dust creation. To protect your family, clean up visible paint chips or painted debris within 48 hours of home repairs.
Children younger than 6 are most at-risk for lead poisoning because lead in blood can enter their brains and cause permanent damage that can lead to problems with learning and behavior. Pregnant women also can pass lead to their unborn children.
Lead poisoning is preventable in children
-Keep painted surfaces in good shape.
-If your home is older and has lead pipes or lead soldered joints, use cold water from the tap and let the water run for 2 minutes before using the water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Hot water may cause more lead to leach into your water supply.
-Regularly clean floors, window sills, stairs, and railings with a wet mop or cloth to control dust that may contain lead.
-Frequently wash your children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys.
-Avoid exposure to lead from make-up that may contain kohl and costume jewelry that may contain lead.
-Do not treat your child with traditional remedies (like Arzacon or Greta) that may contain lead.
-Do not let your child chew on items that may be dirty or contain lead paint (like window sills and batteries).
-Place doormats at entrances that collect dirt from visitors’ shoes. Avoid wearing shoes through the house.
-For children six and younger, talk with your child’s doctor or caregiver about lead and ask to check his/her blood lead levels.
-To minimize potential exposure to lead in soil, reduce exposure to bare dirt. Keep your yard planted with grass.
-Wash children’s hands after playing outside.
Resources for urban gardeners
If you grow vegetables, have your soil tested. In an effort to promote sustainable and safe urban gardening, the Center for Urban Health at IUPUI has become a resource for testing garden soils. In return for this free service, the center is able to use urban gardeners as partners in their research and in their expanding database of soil lead values in urban communities.
Testing your garden soil is easy and only requires the following:
- Ziploc bags (3-quart sized or less and 1-gallon sized bag)
- Permanent Marker
- Trowel or scoop
-Identify and take samples from 3 areas either where your beds are now or where you plan to plant (Site 1).
-Identify one site in the front yard or near the street (Site 2).
-Identify one site near your house, preferably below the dripline of your gutter (Site 3).
-At each site, use the trowel or scoop to scrape up soil down to a depth of about 5 inches.
-Put this soil sample in a Ziploc bag and seal it. Don’t worry about grass, sticks, or rocks—the lab will remove these.
-Label the bags with permanent marker (like a Sharpie), starting with your street address and zip code.
Additionally, label the street sample bag “street,” the house sample bag as “house,” and the garden sample as “garden”—or in a way that makes sense to you to keep track of Site 1, Site 2, and Site 3 samples.
-Place all sealed sample bags in 1-gallon Ziploc bag, or you could use a plastic grocery bag and tie it shut.
-Place in a mailing container and drop off or mail to (you will have to pay postage to mail samples):
Department of Earth Sciences
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
723 W Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
What they will do:
-They will log your samples, sieve to remove debris, and analyze the sample for lead content.
-They will return the results to you, along with a recommendation table focused on your garden soils.
Questions can be directed to email@example.com.
What if lead is found where you wish to plant a garden? If lead is less than 200 parts per million, you are good to go. If it is higher, use raised beds filled with new, clean soil and follow the directions in this urban gardening guide: http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/hunger/doc/gardensafegardenwell_guide.pdf.
MAP Neighborhood Meetings
MAP Neighborhood Presidents’ Council, 6 p.m., July 19, Maring-Hunt Library
Blaine/Southeast: 6 p.m., July 12, Serenity Club, 1218 S. Brotherton St.
Cowing Park: 6 p.m.,July 21, Gardens of Gethsemane Methodist Church
Forest Park: 6:30 p.m., July 15, Delaware County Senior Center
Gilbert: 7 p.m., July 11, Inside Out, 300 N. Madison St.
Industry: 6 p.m., July 28, Price Hall, 704 S. Madison St.
Ludingwood; 2 p.m. July 16, Woodlands Nursing Home, 3820 W. Jackson St.
Minnetrista/Central: 6 pm, Tuesday, Minnetrista cultural center
Northview 6 p.m., July 18,North View Elementary, 807 W. Yale Ave.
Old West End: 6:30 p.m., July 26, Friends Memorial Church, 418 W. Adams St.
Riverside/Normal City: 7 pm, July 27, Hazelwood Christian Church Fellowship House 1400 W. University Ave.
South Central : 7 p.m., July 25, Urban Light Education Center (Ninth and Madison)
Thomas Park/Avondale: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Ross Community Center, 1110 W. 10th St.
Western Woods : 6 p.m., Wednesday, West View ElementarySchool, 3401 W. Gilbert St.
Whitely: 5:30 p.m., July 11, Muncie Area Career Center, 2500 N. Elgin St.
Please check with your neighborhood association to confirm meeting times and dates, which are subject to change .