Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
Chronic exposure to lead remains a health concern in many urban areas; Sacramento, California is one example, with state surveillance data showing nearly 3% of screened children reported with blood lead levels over 4.5 μg/dL in 2009. To investigate the environmental exposure, 91 soil samples were collected and analyzed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS for 14 elements. An additional 28 samples were collected from areas of focus and analyzed by hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for Pb and Zn. Analysis of the metals data revealed non-normal distributions and positive skewness, consistent with anthropogenic input. In addition, high correlation coefficients (≥0.75) of metal concentrations in Cd-Pb, Cd-Zn, Pb-Zn, and Sb-Sn pairs suggest similarities in the input mechanisms. Semivariograms generated from Pb and associated metals reveal these metals to exhibit spatial correlation. A prediction map of lead concentrations in soil was generated by ordinary kriging, showing elevated concentrations in soil located in the central, older area of Sacramento where historic traffic density and industrial activity have been historically concentrated. XRF analysis of Pb and Zn from additional samples verifies elevated concentrations in the central areas of Sacramento as predicted.
Recommended Citation
Solt, Michael J.; Deocampo, Daniel M.; and Norris, Michelle, "Spatial Distribution of Lead in Sacramento, California, USA" (2015). Geosciences Faculty Publications. 2.
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/geosciences_facpub/2
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Comments
Originally Published in:
Int J Environ Res Public Health, 12 (3), 3174-87. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120303174