Expectations, procedures vary for dealing with different lead-soil concentrations

Fifteen years after lead toxins were found in the children's playground soil at Keene State College, 20 percent of that same ground still tests over state and federal safety limits, according to an Equinox investigation.

On Sept. 25, 2007, The Equinox collected 10 soil samples from the Child Development Center playground at KSC. The lead levels in the soils ranged from 2.1 parts per million (ppm) 20 feet east of the building's south wing to 3,700 ppm two feet south of the building south wing.

Besides a sample testing at 3,700 ppm, a second soil sample registered at 490 ppm. Both samples were taken inside the white picket fence, which was 10 feet from the building, on the south side of the south wing of Elliot Hall. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Hampshire public health law both consider a 400 ppm lead level to be a hazardous one in bare soil of a child's play area, and 1,200 ppm in other locations.

"That makes sense. That sort of fits with the Covino report," said Sylvie Rice, KSC Environmental, Health and Safety coordinator, about The Equinox's results. "Of course that is part of the reason why we put the fence up."

On July 13, 2007 Covino Environmental Associates Inc., which provides professional industrial hygiene services, took four soil samples from the CDC playground. The results of the samples ranged from below detection limit at the swingset and sandbox play areas to 124.71 and 126.80 milligrams per kilogram at two locations on the south wing drip line, according to a laboratory report from ProScience Analytical Services Inc. of Woburn, Mass. Milligrams per kilogram is the same as ppm. The Equinox was unable to ascertain the soil depth used in the test.

Jay Kahn, KSC's vice president for Finance and Planning, said, "The college collected samples in similar areas just a couple months prior to that (Sept. 25, 2007). The college elected to take the cautionary steps that one would take if in fact there were significant lead presence. Those steps include the Child Development Center director notifying the families of the presence, and erecting a fence to isolate the areas from the play area."

A July 23, 2007 memorandum from Laura Stockfisch of Covino, which is also in Woburn, Mass., to Rice stated, "Please note that the soil samples from the building drip line appeared to be from soils that may have been applied as cover and/or mulch around the building at some point in the past."

The memo recommended the installation of a fence between Elliot Hall and the playground as a short-term solution. The fence was installed 10 feet from the south and west wings of building in summer 2007.

A July 27, 2007 press release from KSC stated, "Analytical results indicate that the concentration of lead in soils at the playground are within acceptable limits; however, lead was detected in various paint chips collected near the building."

In 1993, staff concerns prompted the south and west wings of Elliot Hall overlooking the CDC playground, and the interior of the child care facility to be tested for lead in August and September 1993, respectively, according to documents.

The CDC playground soil was tested in November 1993 for lead contamination following the discovery of lead-based paint on the exterior of Elliot Hall, according to an Aug. 30, 1993 report. The results of that soil sampling ranged from 64 ppm to 1,240 ppm, according to a December 1993 report by Desmarais Environmental Inc., an environmental consulting firm that took the samples. The Equinox was unable to ascertain the soil depth used in the test.

The Equinox had Eastern Analytical Inc., a certified laboratory in Concord, analyze the 10 soil samples, which were taken by The Equinox in 2007 in an effort to replicate the 10 soil sample locations taken in 1993. The Equinox gathered soil from either two, 10 or 20 feet away from Elliot Hall, from a depth of six inches, using a graduated plastic garden trowel, and immediately placed each sample in a four-ounce clear glass jar, which was then sealed.

"The fact you went down six inches, it's not surprising you would find those levels there," said Rice.

"The guidelines now for risk assessment" involved only collecting the top half inch of soil, she said.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing, soil samples "may be collected using a coring tool to acquire the top half inch (1 centimeter) of soil. Alternatively, a stainless steel scoop or the lip of the sample container may be used."

Rice said there still might be soils at depth that may have high lead levels, "but there is no exposure."

According to administrative rules for the New Hampshire Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Act, when lead levels equal or exceed 5,000 ppm, soils are required to be abated in one of three ways. In one method soil would be removed to a depth of six inches and replaced with soil having less than 200 ppm of lead.

In another instance the rules state only two inches of soil would need to be excavated if the lead level was found to be below 1,500 ppm at that depth, and the remaining soil would be rototilled. The third way was to enclose the soil with either asphalt or concrete, according to the rules.

If the lead contamination in soil is less than 5,000 ppm the rules state using soil having less than 200 ppm of lead, gravel or bark mulch to cover the contaminated soil to a depth of at least six inches. In addition, covering the contaminated soil with grass, artificial turf or shrubbery, or putting up fencing or decks, is also acceptable, according to the rules.

Tim Allen, KSC environmental studies and geology professor, said lead contamination in soil could vary in time and certainly in place.

"With place you can have widely different concentrations of lead in the soil," he said.