Appendix 6.  Detail on the Effect of Soil Abatement on Blood Lead Levels

Results of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Three City Urban Soil Lead Abatement Demonstration Project suggest that substantial declines in soil lead cause only modest or no reduction in mildly-elevated blood lead concentrations.^1,80,85,86  The small effect is due at least in part to rapid recontamination with dust lead in households undergoing soil abatement. Cross-sectional surveys before and after soil abatement in the vicinity of a former smelting and milling operation observed a statistically significant reduction in blood lead levels among children aged 6 to 36 months who had not been exposed to lead-contaminated yards in early childhood.  A significant reduction was not seen in children aged 36 to72 months.⁸⁷

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