MAPPING LEAD CONTAMINATION IN JERSEY CITY, NJ USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Children are vulnerable to the effects of lead. Lead poisoning is difficult to detect because there are no unique symptoms. Lead effects range from low IQ to balance, memory and hearing problems. Short-term exposure leads to brain and kidney damage. Chronic exposure affects the blood and central nervous system and may damage the reproductive system. The focus of our GIS-based project was on public parks, playgrounds, and little league fields within a 4.5 km buffer of New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ. These locations were chosen based on the ability to collect samples from areas where children may have a high probability of exposure to contaminated soil.

The map was formulated using datasets from several sources. Known Contaminated Site List, chromate site, and historical fill shapefiles are publicly available through NJDEP. Fill has been used extensively in Jersey City to create new land area or raise topographic elevation. Locally, the composition of the fill is unknown; regionally it contains chemical and ore processing waste. Parcel and street centerline shapefiles are proprietary, but were provided courtesy of Jersey City Planning. Public schools, public parks, playgrounds and little league fields are also highlighted on the GIS map. Soil sampling locations were captured using a high resolution unit (Leica GPS 1200) and subsequently downloaded onto the map.

Ultimately, the goal of using GIS for this pilot project is to expand from the 4.5 km radius to a city wide investigation of lead contamination in soils. This data will be utilized for public access and further studies concerning soil contamination. Sample locations are displayed as points on a GIS map and contain the following information: pictures of site, lead concentration in soil, texture of soil and whether or not site is on the ‘Known Contaminated Site Inventory'. This information is vital for decreasing and eliminating the disparities of lead contamination among low income children.