LEAD OBSERVED IN SOIL AND ROAD SEDIMENT OF A VACANT PROPERTY IN HAMILTON, OHIO PROVIDES CONSTRAINTS ON URBAN POLLUTION IN A REDEVELOPING REGION

Exposure to lead (Pb), even in trace amounts, can lead to several health concerns such as neurological damage, cancers, and reproductive issues. In a post-industrial city such as Hamilton, Ohio, there could be a higher risk of contact due to Pb being dispersed from traffic, metal processing factories, and large-scale coal burning. Access was granted to a vacant historical property by the City of Hamilton to collect the first high density spatial sampling of soil and road sediment samples. To gain a more complete understanding of the soil and road sediment, a multianalytical approach has been utilized, which includes X-ray diffraction (powder and selected clay mineral analysis; XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). All soil and road sediment samples were sieved in <75 µm and powdered for XRD. The soil samples were found to be quartz-dominated with other minerals such as albite, dolomite, orthoclase, and calcite. The distribution of minerals across the property is consistent throughout and shows that there is not a lot of disturbance of the soil. The results of initial SEM data show Pb particulate is present in 100% of the soil samples and approximately 80% of road sediment samples. There were a variety of different Pb-rich particle types observed amongst the samples and include spherules, oblate shapes, and prolate particles, and anhedral to subhedral fragmented particles. The variety of morphologies among the Pb-rich particles indicate multiple potential anthropogenic sources. Ongoing work includes utilizing ICP-MS to provide information on the concentrations of Pb and other trace metal elements (e.g. Cu, Zn, and Ni) that may be of concern. Investigating heavy metal pollution with multiple analytical techniques will provide detailed constraints on the nature, distribution and variability thereof of Pb and other metal pollutants. Current assessment indicates that Pb is pervasive and is derived from multiple sources, many of which may likely be off-site. This investigation opens up broader questions about the abundance and distribution of Pb concentrations in Hamilton, Ohio. As regions of the city undergo revitalization, detailed studies of Pb in soil and road sediment may be warranted as construction may potentially disturb and expose residents to Pb.