Newark, New Jersey is home to dozens of parks where kids play soccer, families have picnics, and neighbors walk their dogs. But a new study finds that the soil in some of these green spaces contains higher-than-normal levels of two harmful metals: lead and arsenic.
RCEI Affiliate Ashaki A. Rouff, Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University–Newark, is a co-author on the study along with graduate student Suah Yekeh, published in the journal Soil Systems.
This study tested soil at seven Newark parks, focusing on high-traffic areas like playgrounds and sports fields where people are most likely to come into contact with the ground. Using a handheld scanning device, they measured lead and arsenic at the surface and just below it. The results showed that roughly half of the arsenic samples and more than half of the lead samples exceeded New Jersey’s safety limit for residential soil. Years of participating in construction, development of industry, and other anthropogenic activities have led to the accumulation of contaminated soil in these areas. Two of the parks stood out as contamination hotspots.
There is some good news. From further lab testing, these metals are unlikely to spread or move around because most of the metals are tightly bound to iron and manganese minerals in the soil. Still, the researchers note that flooding, erosion, or changes in soil chemistry could someday move these metals to different parts of the city, and direct contact with contaminated soil remains a concern, especially for children who use the parks.
“This research gives Newark residents and city officials real, local data they can use to make informed decisions about park safety and soil management. This also gives communities the information they have been asking for regarding the spaces they use the most. Understanding where contamination is concentrated is the first step toward protecting public health.” -Suah Yekeh
By pinpointing exactly which parks and areas need attention, cities like Newark can prioritize soil testing and cleanup. As urban communities continue to participate in activities that use these metals (e.g. construction, transportation, fossil fuel burning), these monitoring efforts become increasingly important to public health. These findings offer a practical tool for local officials who can implement actionable public health policy.
You can read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10020034
This article was written with assistance from Artificial Intelligence, was reviewed and edited by Kenneth Tam, and was reviewed by Ashaki A. Rouff and Suah Yekeh, the co-authors of the study.
