Over a half of schools in Pasadena Unified district discover soil pollution issues.
The Pasadena Unified School District has discovered contaminated soil at eleven of their schools following the Eaton Fire. Over 40% of these schools have lead levels exceeding state health limits, while over 20% have arsenic levels beyond L.A. County's acceptable levels, according to recent findings.
Lead was found at over triple the state's allowable limit of 80 milligrams per kilogram of soil near Blair High School's tennis courts, and at more than double the limit at four elementary schools. This toxic metal, when inhaled or ingested, can cause permanent brain and nerve damage in children, resulting in slowed development and behavioral issues.
Arsenic, a known carcinogen, was found at a concentration of 92 mg/kg at San Rafael Elementary School. Despite this, health agencies advise that soil covered with grass or cement is unlikely to pose a health risk.
Concerned parents like Nicole Maccalla, a sixth-grader's mother at Octavia E. Butler Magnet, are demanding soil and indoor testing. After seeing a map of her daughter's school, showing lead levels 40% and 70% above the allowable limit in soil samples taken next to the school entrance and near the outdoor lunch tables, respectively, she worries about her daughter's safety.
Maccalla is not alone. Parents have been pushing for testing since April, when L.A. County's Department of Public Health announced it had found 80% of properties had lead levels above the state's standards in some areas downwind. It was only after this announcement that the district hired the environmental firm Verdantas to conduct testing at schools.
Despite the district's statement that there is "no indication that students or staff were exposed to hazardous levels of fire-related substances in the soil," Maccalla questions the safety of students who have been playing outside in potentially contaminated soil for four months. She and other concerned parents are calling for a health crisis mitigation plan.
Further testing found high levels of chromium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on some campuses. Three of the five properties with the district's children's centers also had elevated levels of heavy metals.
Health Risks of Lead Contamination:
- Neurological Effects: Lead exposure can severely impact neurological development in children, potentially leading to reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
- Cognitive Impairment: Even at low levels, lead exposure can cause cognitive impairments, affecting memory, attention, and decision-making abilities.
- Physical Health Issues: Lead exposure is linked to various physical health problems, including anemia, kidney damage, and developmental delays.
- Increased Vulnerability: Children, especially those under six years old, and pregnant women are more susceptible to lead poisoning due to their developing bodies and higher rates of hand-to-mouth activity.
Recommendations for Schools:
- Soil Testing: Conduct thorough soil testing to identify areas with elevated lead levels.
- Mitigation Measures: Implement measures to reduce exposure, such as covering contaminated soil with clean topsoil or using mulch, and restricting access to contaminated areas.
- Health Education: Provide educational materials to students and staff about the risks of lead exposure and how to prevent it.
- Personal Hygiene Practices: Encourage students and staff to wash hands frequently, especially before eating, and avoid eating foods that may have contacted contaminated soil.
- The California Environmental Protection Agency should collaborate with the Pasadena Unified School District to implement recommendations for addressing the contaminated soil at school sites, based on the recent findings.
- As the Rams prepare to move their headquarters to Los Angeles, they might consider partnering with environmental science firms to invest in health-and-wellness measures, ensuring the safety of children and employees in the surrounding community, particularly in light of the wildfire-related soil contamination.
- Amidst the regional climate-change concerns and the wildfire threat in California, the government must allocate funding for environmental-science research to support the development of effective mitigation strategies and improve the health of the environment.
- The Science department at San Rafael High School can incorporate teaching units on the health risks of lead contamination and the importance of following recommended measures to reduce exposure.
- The business sector in Los Angeles should support initiatives that promote soil testing and lead reduction programs in schools, as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, to contribute to a safer and healthier environment for the community.
- In the wake of the Eaton Fire and the subsequent threats to health and safety in California's schools, enacting law that mandates soil and indoor testing, and implementing plans to mitigate health crises caused by fire-related contamination, may be necessary to ensure the well-being of students and staff.
