Project Advisor(s) (Students Only)

Dr. Michael Reisner, Dr. Jeffrey Strasser, Dr. Michael Wolf

Presentation Type (All Applicants)

Poster Presentation

Disciplines (All Applicants)

Environmental Health and Protection

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

Davenport, IA, is a typical Midwestern city with a population of ~102,600 residents and is characterized by aging infrastructure and housing stock. Consequently, alarmingly high rates of child lead poisoning—as a result of deteriorating lead paint—constitute a major public health concern in some urban neighborhoods. A research team conducted free home lead screenings in vulnerable Davenport neighborhoods to better understand the severity of the problem. Via appointment, 27 homes were tested for lead in their paint, dust, soil, and water. Many of the highest-risk homes were found in low-income neighborhoods. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of soil lead contamination and lead bioavailability in this urban setting. A total of 56 composite soil samples were collected: 26 Drip Zone (DZ), 18 Center of Yard (CY), and 12 Play Area (PA). These designations correspond to, respectively: soil within 1 m of the home’s foundation, soil elsewhere in the yard, and soil elsewhere in the yard but deemed a high-traffic area for children. Samples were taken from a depth of 1.5 cm, oven-dried, milled, and pressed into pellets for XRF analyses. The ubiquitous contamination of this well-documented neurotoxin threatens the livelihood of Davenport residents and especially poses irreversible health issues for children under the age of 6.

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Analysis of Surface Soil Lead Contamination in Urban Neighborhoods of Davenport, Iowa

Davenport, IA, is a typical Midwestern city with a population of ~102,600 residents and is characterized by aging infrastructure and housing stock. Consequently, alarmingly high rates of child lead poisoning—as a result of deteriorating lead paint—constitute a major public health concern in some urban neighborhoods. A research team conducted free home lead screenings in vulnerable Davenport neighborhoods to better understand the severity of the problem. Via appointment, 27 homes were tested for lead in their paint, dust, soil, and water. Many of the highest-risk homes were found in low-income neighborhoods. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of soil lead contamination and lead bioavailability in this urban setting. A total of 56 composite soil samples were collected: 26 Drip Zone (DZ), 18 Center of Yard (CY), and 12 Play Area (PA). These designations correspond to, respectively: soil within 1 m of the home’s foundation, soil elsewhere in the yard, and soil elsewhere in the yard but deemed a high-traffic area for children. Samples were taken from a depth of 1.5 cm, oven-dried, milled, and pressed into pellets for XRF analyses. The ubiquitous contamination of this well-documented neurotoxin threatens the livelihood of Davenport residents and especially poses irreversible health issues for children under the age of 6.