Brownfields
Success Story
SoilSHOP
Portland[ ME
Introduction
To promote public health and raise awareness about lead risks in soil, EPA
New England conducts events through its Soil Screening, Health, Outreach
and Partnership, or "soilSHOP," a program developed by the federal
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The program
partners with one or two communities to create events that involve EPA's
mobile chemistry lab, which does the soil screening, and EPA staff, who
help explain screening results and offer lead safety tips.
What is lead?
Lead is a naturally occuring metal found in all parts of the environment,
including air, water, soil, and even homes. Due to its versatility, it was
commonly used as an ingredient in paint, gasoline, and water pipes.
However, due to its harmful effects on children, pregnant women, and
adults, lead has been banned or removed from paint, gasoline, water
pipes, and other products. Nonetheless, the historic use of lead has
contaminated the environment, especially soil, posing a problem for
gardeners.
Lead is one of the most common pollutants found in soil and, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe
level of lead. This means that gardening in soil with any amount of lead
can cause lead poisoning. It is important to understand the risks of
gardening in contaminated soil and seek out resources to learn what can
be done.
EPA SoilSHOP
The first step in planning a soilSHOP is to find a community organization
or individual who will help schedule a soilSHOP as part of a community
event, such as a spring garden fair, farmers market, or health awareness
event. EPA and its partner agencies then set up the mobile lab, a table to
accept lead soil samples, and a booth to welcome visitors and display
flyers and factsheets. Community members are encouraged to bring
samples of soil from their yards or gardens to the event, where they are
screened for lead and other heavy metals at no cost. Participants typically
receive soil screening results within about 30 minutes and learn how to
interpret the data. EPA staff help explain how to reduce lead exposure
from gardens and prevent lead poisoning in and around the home.
By using a "citizen science" approach, soilSHOPs encourage public
participation and improve understanding of the sciences. This
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Grant Recipient:
Cumberland County Soil and Water
Conservation District (CCSWCD)
Grant Types:
Healthy Communities Grant
Residents in towns across New England
have learned about the health of their
soil, thanks to a program organized by
EPA and local communities to provide
free events that raise awareness about
lead in soil. To participate, residents
bring soil samples from their yards and
gardens to a soil screening event that
usually provides results on the same day.
EPA and other public health staff are
there to interpret the results and discuss
ways to reduce potential exposure to
lead in soil.

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community-based effort allows citizens to learn about and prepare
themselves to address lead health risks.
SoilSHOP Event in Portland, Maine
On Sept. 26, 2020, EPA New England partnered with the Cumberland Couny
Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) to organize a safe and
socially-distanced soilSHOP event at the Deering Oaks Park Farmer's Market
in Portland, Maine. As a 2019 recipient of EPA's Healthy Communities grant,
the Conservation District was already in the process of screening soil for
lead contamination at gardens in Portland. This made the organization the
perfect soilSHOP partner, ready to use their contacts and expertise to help
plan and promote the event.
"SoilSHOPS are a fast and
effective way to support our
community by providing useful
information about lead in soil.
Community members leave
with a better understanding of
what they can do to protect
themselves and garden safely.
We have received a large
amount of positive feedback
about the event, along with
many requests to bring
additional soilSHOP events to
the region."
Damon Yakovleff,
Environmental Planner
Cumberland County Soil & Water
Conservation District
The issue of lead-contaminated soil has a long history with gradens in
Portland. In the 1800s, a series of major fires in Portland destroyed parts of
the city. The largest and most destructive was the Great Fire of 1866, which
left behind mounds of debris contaminated with lead. To rebuild the city, ail
the debris was pushed into the Back Cove, where it served as fill for the
foundation of many of today's buildings. Over 150 years later, elevated
levels of lead persist and may threaten many of the homes and gardens in
Greater Portland.
Staff at the 6-hour soilSHOP explained safety tips related to lead in soil to
over 70 local residents, including 15 families with young children. A total of
43 soil samples were brought to EPA's regional laboratory for screening
using an X-ray fluorescence unit to screen all of the samples in a single day.
Results ranged from 21 to 2,800 parts per million (ppm). For reference,
EPA's standard for lead concentration in bare soil in play areas is 400 ppm.
Staff at the District contacted participants to explain the screening results,
answer questions, and provide additional resources. Due to pandemic-
related health concerns, the soilSHOP event reduced the number of staff on
site, complied with social distancing and face mask protocols, and used safe
soil sample collection methods. Instead of bringing the mobile laboratory to
the event, EPA staff transported soil samples to the EPA laboratory in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
This innovative approach demonstrated how EPA Region 1 can work with
community partners to safely provide outreach, education, and technical
assistance even when faced with unique challenges. Thanks to this effort,
Portland residents know more about lead in their soil and can take steps to
minimize risk and protect residents from lead exposure.
For more information:
Visit the EPA Brownfields website at
www.epa.gov/browrifields or contact
Robert Guillemin at 617-918-1814 or
Guillemin.Robert@epa.gov.
))
EPA 901-F-20-005
December 2020

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