Using Community Science to Better Understand Lead Exposure Risks.

Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxicant that particularly harms young children. Urban environments are often plagued with elevated Pb in soils and dusts, posing a health exposure risk from inhalation and ingestion of these contaminated media. Thus, a better understanding of where to prioritize risk screening and intervention is paramount from a public health perspective.

Road sediment, an underutilized material in environmental science research: A review of perspectives on United States studies with international context.

Road sediment is a pervasive environmental medium that acts as both source and sink for a variety of natural and anthropogenic particles and often is enriched in heavy metals. Road sediment is generally understudied in the United States (U.S.

Quantification of Pb pollution sources in complex urban environments through a multi-source isotope mixing model based on Pb isotopes in lichens and road sediment.

Despite a growing focus on anthropogenic toxic metal pollution in urban environments, few studies have addressed the problem of quantification when more than two pollution sources are likely present, particularly within complex urban settings in the United States (U.S.).

Investigation of Pb-contaminated soil and road dust in a polluted area of Philadelphia.

A multi-analytical geochemical investigation of Pb-contaminated collocated road dust and soils, at two size fractions, was performed in Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA, USA. The combinations of methods employed in this case study were chosen to better characterize the contamination, enhance identification of pollution sources, improve understanding of the impact of former Pb smelters, and to study the relationships between two media and between two size fractions. High concentrations of Cu and Sn were observed in both bulk and finer road dust, whereas large concentrations of Zn and Pb were found in both bulk and finer soil samples, implying pollution.

Monitoring uranium mine pollution on Native American lands: Insights from tree bark particulate matter on the Spokane Reservation, Washington, USA.

The uranium boom in the United States from the 1940's to the 1980's was a period of extensive uranium mining on Native American lands. However, detailed environmental investigations of the resulting uranium pollution are sparse and typically ignore contributions from airborne particulate matter. The Midnite Mine is a 350-acre inactive open pit uranium mine located on the Spokane Indian Reservation in eastern Washington that operated from 1954 to 1981.

Alteration of yellow traffic paint in simulated environmental and biological fluids.

Pollution from heavy metals in urban environments is a topic of growing concern because many metals, including Pb and Cr, are a human health hazard. Exposure to Pb and Cr has been linked to the inhibition of neurological development as well as toxic effects on many organs. Yellow traffic paint (YTP) is a mixture that contains organic polymers, binders, and pigments, which in some cases consist of crocoite (PbCrO) that may be coated by silica.

Reflective spectroscopy investigations of clothing items to support law enforcement, search and rescue, and war crime investigations.

Clothing articles are important pieces of evidence in criminal, search and rescue, and search and recovery investigations. Hyperspectral remote sensing of clothing will be an important tool for supporting such investigations in the near future. This study investigated over 300 items of clothing that varied in fabric type, texture, color, and pattern.

The first pollution investigation of road sediment in Gary, Indiana: Anthropogenic metals and possible health implications for a socioeconomically disadvantaged area.

An investigation of road sediment in Gary, Indiana revealed high levels of various trace metals such as Zn, Mn, and Cr, often exceeding those of background reference concentrations as shown through geoaccumulation indices and contamination factors. The hazard index (HI) value for Mn in children was >1 (1.7), suggesting possible long-term non-carcinogenic health risk.

Metal pollution investigation of Goldman Park, Middletown Ohio: Evidence for steel and coal pollution in a high child use setting.

A geochemical investigation of both ballfield sediment and street sediment in a park adjacent to a major steel manufacturing site in Middletown, Ohio revealed Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn exceeded background levels, but in heterogeneous ways and in varying levels of health concern. Pb, Sn, and Zn had geoaccumulation values>2 (moderate to heavy pollutants) in street sediment samples. Cr had a geoaccumulation value>1, while Ni, W, Fe and Mn had geoaccumulation values between 1 and 0 in street sediment.

Kinetic sorption of contaminants of emerging concern by a palygorskite-montmorillonite filter medium.

Kinetic sorption of bisphenol A (BPA), carbamazepine (CMZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) by three palygorskite-montmorillonite (Pal-Mt) granule sizes was studied. For BPA, CMZ and CIP, apparent sorption equilibrium was reached within about 3, 5 and 16 h, respectively. The highest and the lowest sorption capacities were by the small and the large granule sizes, respectively.

Sorption-desorption of carbamazepine by palygorskite-montmorillonite (PM) filter medium.

Palygorskite-montmorillonite (PM) was studied as a potential sewage treatment effluent filter material for carbamazepine. Batch sorption experiments were conducted as a function of granule size (0.3-0.

A mineralogical and geochemical investigation of street sediment near a coal-fired power plant in Hamilton, Ohio: an example of complex pollution and cause for community health concerns.

The Hamilton Municipal Electric Plant is a 125 MW coal-fired power plant, owned and operated by the City of Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio. The plant is located within 110 m of 50 homes. Bulk chemical investigation of street sediment near these homes indicates average concentrations of 25 ppm Cr, 40 ppm Cu, 15 ppm Ni, 215 ppm Pb, and 500 ppm Zn.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations of Mn-oxide rich cathodic material from spent disposable alkaline batteries.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to investigate the spent cathodic material of a single common brand of disposable alkaline batteries. Mn-oxide particles are anhedral and irregular in shape and compose an estimated 99-95% of the < 10 microm size fraction of sample material. Diameters of particles vary widely and typically are between 50 nm and 3 microm; however, most particles are approximately 200-400 nm in diameter.