Discovering unrecognized lead-smelting sites by historical methods
W P Eckel1, M B Rabinowitz, G D Foster
1Environmental Science-Public Policy Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., USA. weckel@osf1.gmu.edu
American Journal of Public Health
|April 9, 2001
Summary
Over 400 former lead smelters in the US were unidentified. Soil testing at these hazardous waste sites revealed dangerous lead levels, posing a public health risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Lead smelting has a long history in the United States, often leaving behind hazardous waste sites.
- Government registries may not fully capture all defunct industrial locations, particularly older ones.
Observation:
- Historical research identified approximately 430 former lead smelter sites not listed in federal hazardous site registries.
- A significant number of these unrecognized sites were located in states with historically high lead production.
Findings:
- Soil samples from 9 out of 10 investigated sites exceeded established residential lead level standards.
- Only a small fraction (5 of 319) of identified sites were previously known to authorities in top producing states.
Implications:
- The study highlights a substantial underestimation of lead-contaminated sites in the US.
- Unrecognized lead smelter sites represent a significant, unaddressed threat to public health and environmental safety.
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