DETERMINING SOIL CONTAMINATION PATTERNS IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT NEAR A COPPER SMELTER

In 1979, a preliminary survey conducted in a district located near a c opper smelter revealed elevated lead levels in the blood of some child ren and in the soil. In 1989, a more comprehensive study was undertake n to determine the blood lead contamination of the children and to det ermine soil contamination patterns. A method was devised for evaluatin g soil contamination by equally weighting each area of a predetermined grid. Three zones of contamination provided indirect evidence that su ggested a contribution of diffuse emissions, compared with stack emiss ions, and assisted in the determination of priorities for remedial act ion.