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Making a Difference at the
Tar Creek Superfund Site:
Community Efforts to
Reduce Risk is a book that
we hope will inspire other
communities facing
environmental injustices.
It comes with a DVD
featuring a new film
Progress at Tar Creek
and two films of youth
efforts through service
learning. The first printing
was made possible through
a grant from the National
Institutes of Environmental
Health Sciences.  
Thank you for sharing our
vision to make a difference.
There is still more to be
done.  LEAD Agency will
accept donations
to reproduce additonal
copies and to allow for
postage.

Each year, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. Many parents are aware of these dangers, but how many of us have ever considered that the ground, itself, might be dangerous?

As a result of lead-laden chat having been spread to many areas of the county, soil in some locations is now contaminated with this and other heavy metals. Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from headaches, hearing problems, slowed growth, behavior and learning problems, and even damage to the brain and nervous system.

In March, 2001, the EPA initiated screening level sampling in the City of Miami to assess if elevated levels of lead were present at locations where chat was visually identified in alleyways and parks. A total of 92 samples were collected, and results ranged from 31 ppm to 4,532 ppm of lead. Of the 92 samples collected, 71% exceeded the 500 ppm action level for lead that the EPA has determined is the highest level that can be present in soil without being harmful. In response to these elevated results, the EPA directed further sampling to be done in high access areas where the risk was considered the greatest. Since children are especially susceptible to the toxic effects of lead, the decision was made to sample local school playgrounds.

From February through March 2002, sampling was performed at a total of 13 school properties in the City of Miami. In addition, sampling was also performed at a possible new addition to the Picher-Cardin Elementary School. A total of 1,452 samples were collected and analyzed. The data from this sampling showed that six of our schools have isolated to extensive areas of contaminated soils that require action.

Because these areas are highly accessible to children, EPA will take immediate action starting in July 2002. The clean-up will be performed during the summer recess and is expected to be complete before the start of school.

SCHOOLS INVOLVED:

Harvard Children's Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research

NEO Head Start Miami

Kindergarten Center

Nichols Elementary

Rockdale Elementary

Roosevelt Elementary

Washington Elementary

Will Rogers Middle School

Miami High School

Mt. Olive Lutheran School

Green Country Christian School

Picher-Cardin Elementary