Brooklyn is home to many great things. But previous manufacturing practices and reduced environmental management have subjected Brooklyn residents to a real hazard. This hazard affects our children, our pets and even adults, even in small quantities. That hazard? Lead.
Brooklyn soil has been researched and it’s not looking good for its residents. It appears that a majority of areas in Brooklyn have lead-contaminated soil. This can seem like a nerve-wracking situation for everyone. But, how does lead get into our soil, how does it affect us, and who can we turn to to help restore our soil?
What is Lead?
Lead (also seen as “Pb,” its elemental symbol) is a heavy metal that occurs in small quantities in the soil. A majority of lead is used in industry. Almost 90% of all manufacturing with lead is from producing lead-acid batteries.
There are many ways large amounts of lead emerges in the soil. One such method is the now historic practice of mixing lead with gasoline. This mixture would improve octane levels and reduce wear on car components. Spills from gasoline would absorb into the soil, contaminating without a second thought. Unfortunately, this practice did not end until 1995.
Other practices affect our soil as well. For example, car exhaust, manufacturing, and lead paint can all contaminate soil. Lead-based paint phased out after the 1950s. The lead was completely removed from paints in 1978. But, older homes are still at risk. Residents can expose themselves to lead through accidental ingestion or inhalation.
A common practice even today when renovating these old buildings is to throw all the garbage into the back yard and then carry the debris out through the ground floor. This means all the lead based paint falls into the soil.
While lead is in the soil, earlier manufacturing practices have created long-lasting effects. From decades of poor soil management comes today’s unfortunate reality. And now, people have to worry about how to fix the soil.
Lead-Contaminated Soil in Brooklyn
In a study done of 52 Brooklyn backyards, 92 percent had excessive levels of lead. Lead can also be affecting our playgrounds, workplaces, and urban gardens. A separate study of New York urban gardens found that all their tested sites had higher levels of lead than rural areas.
The photo below showcases the concentration of lead in gardens. In many gardens in the Brooklyn area, there are medium or higher levels of lead. It was also found that New York City had the highest levels of lead, even compared to other cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, and Baltimore.
Image Credit: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/eb14/2139baf7bd0f4d0ead1b13a72b08bfad5f5a.pdf
Those who want to start an urban garden may find themselves exposed to toxic plants. Take Frank Meuschke’s soil, for example. This Brooklyn gardener was shocked to find excessive lead content in his soil. In fact, it was almost 90 times more exposure than natural lead levels.
One notable example of the effects of lead contamination is Red Hook. In 2012, it was found that those spots built for play had lead levels 4 to 10 times higher than recommended. Red Hook was possibly contaminated due to a prior smelting factory that was on the land in the 1920s and ’30s. What later became a source of play for children, fans and families ended up being closed in 2015. These fields still under mediation, with them estimating completion 2023.
The Effects of Lead-Contaminated Soil
In our busy world, something as simple as the soil is often overlooked. But, when we contaminate our foundation of living, our lives become toxic. Lead poisoning is something that should not be overlooked. Years of poor environmental practices have led to this unfortunate reality. A reality that now has our children exposed to health issues, polluted our food and has us scared of our own yards.
You & Your Children’s Health
When we are exposed to contaminated soil, we are opening ourselves up for health and home issues. Accidental ingestion of soil, especially in children, could lead to poisoning. Lead poisoning can lead to injury to your brain and nervous system.
Exposure to lead in the body can lead to many effects, especially in children. Research has found that lead exposure can lead to learning problems. Children who are still growing can experience lead in their bones. As your children continue to grow, lead flows into the bloodstream. And if your children decide to have children, previous exposure can complicate pregnancies.
A study was done comparing children in New York to those in Flint, Michigan. This study found that 5,400 New York children tested had high levels of lead, above the recommended level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determines that anything above 5 micrograms of lead in a childs blood is unsafe. That is now being lowered even more. Ten years ago the number was 10. Over 800 had double that amount. Based on this study, areas in Brooklyn with heavy construction are heavily exposed to lead. Another spot that had almost triple rates to that of Flint was a Hasidic Jewish community in the Greenpoint area of Brooklyn.
There are also studies that relate lead exposure in children to have a higher rate in crimes. Based on a study in 2000, those who were exposed to lead in the 1940s and 50’s found higher crime rates in later years. This study was also compared to global trends, where similar patterns were found.
Our Poisoned Food
In New York City alone, there are at least 700 documented community gardens. Community and urban gardens bring benefits to our homes, neighbors and the environment. Urban agriculture has been known to keep people healthy and prevent nutrient deficiencies. It can also add income to the home, build communities, reduce stormwater effects and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Unfortunately, lead exposure in the soil can lead to contaminated crops. Fruiting plants do not see much exposure to lead. Yet, plants where we eat the roots, stalk or leaves, see higher concentrations. Vegetables especially prone to absorbing lead from the soil are leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, and root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Gardeners are also exposed to lead poisoning. This can happen through accidental ingestion of dirt when touching their hands to their mouths.
Your Home
In our homes, our outdoor enjoyment becomes limited due to fear of lead exposure to our family. In areas near manufacturing or busy roads, the effects can become greater. We fear our children touching their hands to their mouth after playing in the garden. Our worry of accidental inhalation of lead dust particles after mowing your yard. The possibility of dust being tracked into the home via your shoes of by winds is very real. Wouldn’t you want to worry less about contamination and have a healthy family and home?
Why You Need Healthy Soil
The soil is the backbone to almost all life. It is also the source of thousands of microbes and insects. In plants, the soil is a foundation as well as a nutrient and water source. The soil has a ton of microbes. There are approximately 40,000 microbe species per gram of soil, we can see healthier plants. In turn, having healthy, well-fed crops provides us with nutrients and keeps us healthy.
For animals, the soil is where they build their homes, eat grasses and other plants and use it as shelter against predators. It is the place where deceased animals decompose and give back to the soil. In other words, the soil is the foundation for the “circle of life” (in the words of Mufasa from “The Lion King”).
It is the foundation in which we build our grocery stores, businesses, and homes. Soil health relates to reduced erosion and flood rates. There is also an increase in beauty in our surrounding areas, such as homes, parks, and cities if the soil is healthy.
In short, there is no reason why healthy soil should not be a priority for any homeowner. Soil affects the water we drink, our weather patterns, the food we eat and the places we call home. But, how do you know your soil is healthy? And, if it isn’t, what can you do to restore your soil?
Soil Remediation in Brooklyn
While it the future seems bleak for Brooklyn residents with soil lead contamination, there is hope. Groups are collaborating to try and clean up lead concentrations in New York. Neighbors Allied for Good Growth has seen fantastic reductions lead quantities in Greenpoint. Before remediation efforts, there were plot samples that had almost 2,100 parts per million of lead. Many plots are down to an acceptable 43 parts per million!
New York City considers anything above 400ppm to be unsafe and anything above 800ppm to be hazardous. And these numbers are very forgiving. In Europe the acceptable safety level is much lower at 100ppm.
Brooklyn, it’s time for a wake-up call. While we wait for much-needed changes to come on other levels, we are still exposed daily to lead. We know that our families and communities deserve better and we should not be fearful of our own lawns. But, soil remediation can be costly, both in time and investment. Luckily, there are soil remediation services that restore our homes safely and within budget.
Enter Eco Brooklyn, a soil remediation company focused on treating residential backyards. At Eco Brooklyn, we create a custom plan to restore your lawn. We can understand everything in your soil and find the best way to remove the soil. The house is then prepped to reduce exposure, keeping you and your family safe. The contaminated soil is then capped and new, organic topsoil is introduced. Eco Brooklyn’s team of professionals are ready to tackle your lawn’s problems and get you out enjoying life in your yard.
Our work at Eco Brooklyn is unparalleled, backed by client testimonials. We take pride in the work that we offer and in the long-lasting benefits our client’s receive after the work is done. If you want to hear more about our customer stories, feel free to ask us and we will provide customer referrals.
Are you questioning whether you need lead abatement? The best option is to order a soil kit. In our previous article, we recommended getting your soil tested for contaminants. We also recommended following their guide on when to know to mediate your soil. We recommend following the ECO Label guidelines for lead abatement. Should your level of lead be over 100 parts per million, it would be a good idea to look into lead abatement.
We know that lead abatement can be costly. But there are many added benefits when hiring a soil remediation contractor. When you hire a lead abatement contractor, you must look for professional who can discard the soil and introduce healthy soil. You are not being exposed to possible contamination while trying to remove the polluted soil. Your home stays clean and away from dust particles, which also keeps your family safe. Best of all, you are protecting your family. You can breathe easy knowing that your family is able to play outside without fear. You can entertain on the patio, practice gardening and get the most out of your home.
About EcoBrooklyn and Soil Remediation
Eco Brooklyn is a sustainable contracting firm that dedicates itself to creating safe and happy homes. The staff at Eco Brooklyn are highly trained and held to the utmost standards and ethics. To us, it is imperative that you receive the best in quality and service. If you are looking for a soil remediation expert in the New York area, Eco Brooklyn is able to serve you at your family. Click here if you want to learn more about our standards and history.
Eco Brooklyn began their mission to restore soil after discovering that the founder’s backyard was heavily contaminated with metals. Being concerned for his children’s health, he rolled up his sleeves and restored his backyard. To this day, he still offers lead abatement in the Brooklyn area, hoping to reduce the amount of lead exposure to our community.
New York, our hope at Eco Brooklyn is that you will have a healthy, happy family and lifestyle for years to come. While soil remediation sounds complicated, we are here to help you through every step. If you have any questions or want to have your soil tested for free, contact us.