1970s Phase-Out: Lead was phased out of gasoline starting in the mid-1970s.
Decades of Contamination: Lead from vehicle exhaust settled into the atmosphere, contributing to ongoing contamination.
Misconceptions and Current Realities
Ongoing Issue: Despite common belief, lead contamination is still a current problem.
Broader Impact: Beyond Flint, Michigan—lead contamination impacts soil around the world, including places close to home.
Children's Health: No level of lead is safe for children, yet it is found universally in their blood.
Common Sources: Lead is commonly associated with water and paint but is also pervasive in soil.
Case Study: Santa Ana, California
Environmental History: Poor, segregated neighborhoods like Logan have experienced significant lead contamination due to industrial emissions, highways, and railroads.
Soil and Air: Children in Santa Ana were exposed to lead in the soil and air, carried by winds.
Long-Term Contamination: Lead can remain in soil for centuries, posing ongoing risks especially in areas affected by climate change.
Personal Investigation and Findings
Investigative Focus: The reporter initiated an investigation into soil lead contamination, inspired by broader environmental concerns and specific cases of ADHD and criminal behavior among young Latino boys.
Hypothesis: A potential link exists between lead exposure and ADHD, as well as between lead contamination and crime rates.
Data Collection and Results
Methods: Conducted over 1,600 soil tests across Santa Ana.
Findings: High levels of lead, particularly in poorer neighborhood centers such as the 92701 zip code.
Impact on Children: High soil lead levels correlated with higher blood lead levels in children, leading to health and behavioral issues.
Case Study – César Gaspar: Demonstrates the journey of a young boy affected by lead poisoning and ADHD, and his trajectory into the juvenile justice system.
Broader Implications
Systemic Issue: Many incarcerated youths might be lead-burdened, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem.
Lifelong Impact: Lead gets stored in bones and can affect individuals throughout their lives, contributing to cardiovascular diseases and other health issues.
Economic and Social Costs: Failure to address lead contamination has significant societal implications.
Solutions and Action Plan
Reporting Toolkit: Developed to help journalists and community members raise awareness and investigate soil lead contamination.
Need for Legislation: Call for a systematic approach similar to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, emphasizing the need for a Clean Soil Act.
Community Efforts: Highlight initiatives like New York City's free clean soil bank as examples of actionable steps.
Global Convening: Plans to organize a global meeting to develop a comprehensive action plan for mapping and eradicating urban soil lead contamination.
Conclusion
Call to Action: Urges for more awareness, testing, and remediation efforts to protect future generations from lead poisoning and ensure better health outcomes for communities.
Hope for Change: Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing environmental factors that have been overlooked, with a vision of healthier, safer environments for children to grow up in.