EPA Lowers Recommended Screening Levels for Lead-Contaminated Soil

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it had lowered recommended screening levels and strengthening guidance for investigating and cleaning up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas. As a result of the lower screening levels, EPA also shared that it expects to investigate more residential properties for potential cleanup under the Superfund law and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

EPA changed the screening level for lead in soil at residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm. At residential properties with multiple sources of lead exposure, the agency will generally use 100 ppm as the screening level.

According to the EPA announcement:
Screening levels are not cleanup standards. While this update will help EPA site teams make site-specific cleanup decisions to protect nearby communities, EPA makes cleanup decisions specific to each site, using site-specific factors, including risk factors and community input that can vary from site to site.

“Lead exposure hazards can still be found inside and outside of far too many residential, institutional, and commercial buildings in New York and across the United States,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “Even low level exposure can potentially cause a wide array of serious health effects. This is why the environmental and industrial hygiene specialists at CTSI offer testing, consulting, and training services for lead and lead-based paint-related projects. Our EPA lead certified risk assessors and inspectors have successfully performed thousands of projects involving indoor and outdoor sources of lead. CTSI’s services also comply with the NYC Department of Health, HUD, and EPA guidelines to protect children, workers, and the public.”

To learn more about lead or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective solutions. This commitment has been furthered by CTSI’s reputation for fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high-quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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