210-12 Lead (Pb) and Hazardous Metals in Queens' Topsoil and Soil Fractions: A Study from a Densely Populated New York City Borough of New York, USA

Session: Environmental Geochemistry and Health

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic metal commonly present in and around homes, frequently found in sources such as old paint chips, ceramics, plumbing materials, gasoline, batteries, cosmetics, as well as in soil, water, and air. Among these, urban and residential soils, especially those in house yards and outdoor areas, are major sources of environmental lead. This issue is often underestimated since residents may lack awareness or education about the dangers posed by lead-contaminated soil. Exposure to Pb in soil is a particular health risk for young children, who are most susceptible to its toxic effects. Children can be exposed to Pb by playing in contaminated soil, inadvertently ingesting lead dust or soil via hand-to-mouth behavior, or by bringing lead particles indoors on shoes, clothing, or pets.

Recently, more time spent at home-especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—has increased potential exposure, as families have engaged in gardening and recreational activities on their properties. This has heightened the risk for children, especially in areas where soil lead concentrations exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s revised safety threshold of 200 parts per million (ppm). Lead is persistent and not readily mobile in soil, which means that it accumulates and remains hazardous over many years. Recent studies emphasize that soil lead remains a hazardous exposure route and a critical environmental justice issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in densely populated urban neighborhoods.

Testing for Pb can be both qualitative and quantitative. Evaluating soil for lead is increasingly recommended as a critical strategy for reducing risk. In one of the densely populated residential areas of New York City, lead detection in topsoil using both X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers (Thermo-Scientific Niton XL3t) and recently developed Rhodizonate colorimetric methods revealed that over half (51%) of composite samples (n=74) had high Pb levels, and two-thirds (64%) of finer-textured soil (<0.25 mm) samples exceeded the EPA limit. Such findings highlight significant health hazards, especially for children who may have experienced prolonged exposure during periods when families spent more time at home. Persistent lead contamination in soil is a public health concern. Without intervention and increased community awareness, lead exposure risks from residential soil will continue, necessitating regular testing and mitigation to prevent lead poisoning, particularly among children.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10709

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.