114-10 A Community-Engaged Assessment of Heavy Metal and Metalloid Exposure in the Westside of Atlanta Communities

Session: Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Part I)

Presenting Author:

Ngoc Nguyen

Authors:

Nguyen, Ngoc Minh¹, Saikawa, Eri², Martin, Navin ³, Pozzo, Nicole⁴, Oroczo, Sarah⁵, Encarnacion, Naurica⁶, Martin, Lalita⁷, Avramov, Alexander⁸

(1) Environmental Science, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, ATLANTA, GA, USA, (2) Environmental Science, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, ATLANTA, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, ATLANTA, GA, USA, (3) Emory University, ATLANTA, GA, USA, (4) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, (5) , (6) USA, (7) Emory University, , (8) Environmental Science, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, ATLANTA, GA, USA,

Abstract:

Contamination of heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs) remains a persistent environmental health concern in urban communities with historical industrial activity. In children, frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors and outdoor play increase their contact with HMMs in contaminated residential environmental media, making them particularly vulnerable to such exposure. In the Westside of Atlanta (hereafter Westside), initial identification of elevated residential soil lead (Pb) concentrations prompted collaborative sampling efforts with community members to investigate whether contamination extended beyond the original site. These community-engaged investigations revealed the broader extent of residential Pb contamination across the Westside associated with historical industrial slag and supported the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designation of the area as a Superfund site and subsequent placement on the National Priorities List. However, questions remained regarding children’s exposure to Pb from contaminated soil and other residential sources, as well as potential exposure to additional HMMs. To address these concerns, this community-engaged study aimed to better understand the magnitude ofHMM contamination and exposure pathways to HMMs in historically-impacted urban communities. Through community outreach events, we recruited children aged 6 months to 6 years living within and close to the EPA Superfund Site boundary in the Westside. We collected residential soil, dust, and paint, as well as children’s urine and blood to evaluate environmental contamination and children’s exposure to HMMs, with a focus on Pb. We developed individualized report-back materials and hosted several community meetings to discuss results with participants. The study identified multiple households with elevated residential soil Pb concentrations, contributing to subsequent remediation efforts. These findings call for continued community-engaged research and monitoring to address environmental health risks associated with legacy contamination. 

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