Lead in New York City Soils

Urban soil is a sink for anthropogenic lead (Pb) and the latter is a persistent threat to human health, especially to children and the gardening population. In the past decade, several organizations have tested soil samples for Pb in New York City. Here we summarize the available soil Pb data for New York City and create a spatial distribution map. The highest Pb levels were present in the oldest parts of the city, and mostly industrial and high traffic areas. There is overlap between high Pb areas with areas of high population density and high poverty rates. The analyses help delineate parts of the city that are most affected, possible sources of Pb, and where to prioritize resources for mitigation and remediation.