[USCC] Contaminated park brings end to community garden plan - Lead

[Office]

I support the comments and options proposed by Rufus Chaney regarding lead
in soil issues.

While the broad solutions proposed of limiting bioavailable Pb through
"locking up" the Pb do work, the biggest issue will be issues around public
perception, by public officials who are notoriously ultra risk averse these
days, and do not seem to understand some of the science being used, or maybe
do not want to, due to the litigious public.  The there is the "mums and
dads" issue in which dealing with the public makes even starting along the
solution pathway fraught with potholes and sidetracks.

IT IS DOABLE...........it is good science, and it works.

I have some reservations about the level of the US EPA Pb level for soils of
400ppm.  It is lower in Australia. I have been involved with some Pb
poisoning cases over the past few years due to young children actually
ingesting Pb contaminated soil [partially accidently, partially through
playing in the soil - and licking fingers etc]. I do caution that lower
levels than 400ppm should be the aim in any remediation if possible, and
that low bioavailability is important.


Peter G Harrison
Above Capricorn Technologies
Agricultural & Environmental Consultants
PO Box 736  Nightcliff   NT   0814   Australia
 
office at abovecapricorn.com.au
http://abovecapricorn.blogspot.com
 
phone: +61 8 8948 1894   fax: +61 8 8948 3894
 
www.abovecapricorn.com.au  [in development]
 
ABN 73 215 304 514
 
"delivering superior technology and skilled services to improve agricultural
and environmental outcomes in the tropics"
 
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