Start |Author Index | View Uploaded Presentations | Meeting Information
Paper No. 8
Presentation Time: 2:50 PM

SPATIAL PREDICTION OF BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN CHILDREN IN TOLEDO, OH USING FUZZY SETS AND THE SITE-SPECIFIC IEUBK MODEL


STEWART, Lauren R., Department of Geology, Bowling Green State University, 190 Overman Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, FARVER, John R., Department of Geology, Bowling Green State University, 190 Overman Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403, GORSEVSKI, Pece V., School of Earth, Environment and Society, Bowling Green State University, 190 Overman Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403 and MINER, Jeffrey G., Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, 217 Life Sciences Building, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, ltrombl@bgsu.edu

Urban areas are often affected by unique environmental and health concerns due to an increase in industrial and manufacturing activity, traffic density and waste disposal compared to rural areas. A major concern in urban areas today continues to be lead poisoning in young children, even 30 years after the banning of Pb-based paint and leaded gasoline. In Toledo, OH, 16.6% of 6,550 children tested in 2010 had blood lead levels (BLLs) above the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lead poisoning reference level of 5 μg/dL. The purpose of this study was to spatially quantify the risk of lead poisoning to children in Toledo, OH and to reduce lead poisoning risk through educational outreach and citizen science.

Students in Toledo area schools were instructed on proper USEPA soil sampling guidelines and were asked to collect soil samples from their residential yards as part of an educational outreach effort. A subsample of 81 soil samples was analyzed for total lead using USEPA method 6200 for field portable x-ray fluorescence and bioavailable lead using the USEPA in vitrobioaccessibility assay and ICP-OES analysis. BLLs were predicted at each sampling site using the USEPA Integrated Exposure Uptake and Biokinetic (IEUBK) model. Predicted BLLs and various physical and socioeconomic spatial variables were then used to develop an index model using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted linear combination (WLC). Fuzzy sets were implemented in the model to account for uncertainties in the sampling method.

Soil analysis showed that 8.6% of the soil samples had total soil lead concentrations above the USEPA action level of 400 mg/kg, but 28.4% of soil samples yielded predicted elevated BLLs, suggesting the action level is set too high. It was also found that housing age had the greatest impact on the possibility of lead poisoning followed by road density, percent impervious surfaces, home value, household income and soil type. The highest risk for lead poisoning was found in the highly urbanized city center. The spatial index model paired with the unique outreach driven sampling approach proved successful at providing quality soil samples and educating the community about the risks of lead in soil in urban areas.

Session No. 288

T168. Urban Geochemistry
Tuesday, 29 October 2013: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Room 503 (Colorado Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 45, No. 7, p.666
© Copyright 2013 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
Back to: T168. Urban Geochemistry
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>