Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, September 12, 2008
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Dirt could be a public health hazard for children. Lead poisoning— caused by contaminated dirt— affects hundreds of thousands more children than lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry.
IUPUI professor Gabriel Filippelli investigated the lead in the soils from a number of cities. His findings--- older cities like Indianapolis have a very high lead content in the soil.
Is there a solution? Filippelli says going into neighborhoods where yards are dirt and spraying clean water with high power shower systems would significantly decrease the chronic lead poisoning in children.
He says a better but less feasible remedy would be to put a layer of clean soil on top of the contaminated soil and to hydroseed the fresh dirt with grass.
The professor is trying to get private funding to test these possible solutions next summer.
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