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Community science reveals insights into metal pollution and environmental justice
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  • Matthew Dietrich,
  • Leah R Wood,
  • John T Shukle,
  • Angela Herrmann,
  • Gabriel Filippelli
Matthew Dietrich
Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis

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Leah R Wood
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
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John T Shukle
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
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Angela Herrmann
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
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Gabriel Filippelli
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
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Abstract

Heavy metals are often prevalent in urban settings due to many possible legacy and modern pollution sources, and are essential to quantify because of the potential adverse health effects associated with them. Of particular importance is lead (Pb), because there is no safe level of exposure, and it especially harms children. Through our partnership with community scientists in the Marion County (Indiana, United States) area, we measured Pb and other heavy metal concentrations in various household media. Community scientists completed screening kits that were then analyzed in the laboratory via X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) to quantify heavy metal concentrations in dust, soil, and paint to determine potential hazards in individual homes. Early results point to renters being significantly more likely to contain higher concentrations of Pb, zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in their soil versus homeowners, irrespective of soil sampling location at the home, and home age was significantly negatively correlated with Pb and Zn in soil and Pb in dust across all homes. Analysis of paired soil, dust, and paint samples revealed several important relationships such as significant positive correlations between indoor vacuum dust Pb, dust wipe Pb, and outdoor soil Pb. Our collective results point to rental status being an important determinant of possible legacy metal pollution exposure in Indianapolis, and housing age being reflective of both past and possibly current Zn and Pb pollution at the household scale in dust and soil. Thus, future environmental pollution work examining rental status versus home ownership, as well as other household data such as home condition and resident race/ethnicity, is imperative for better understanding environmental justice issues surrounding not just Pb, but other heavy metals in environmental media as well.
01 Mar 2023Published in Environmental Research Letters volume 18 issue 3 on pages 034013. 10.1088/1748-9326/acbaad