Contribution of soil lead to blood lead in children: a study from New Orleans, LA

In recent years, a significant number of environmental studies have been conducted in New Orleans, LA and surround-ing Gulf Coast areas due in part to the occurrence of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Data collected from studies in the New Orleans area indicate that inorganic contaminants including arsenic (As), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and vanadium (V); high concentration of bioaerosols, particularly Cladosporium and Aspergillus, and several organic pollutants (PAHs, pesticides, and volatiles) may pose a risk to human health in New Orleans. While many of these results resemble his-torical data, a current quantitative exposure assessment has not been conducted. We engaged in one such assessment for lead (Pb) contamination in surface soils. We used Pb concentrations in surface soils (<5 cm deep) from New Orleans and quantitative data on soil ingestion using the USEPA terrestrial wildlife model to imitate lifestyle movement (e.g., school to home to daycare) to estimate child exposure to Pb co