IUPUI-Earth-Science.ShinyApps.io
Lead was found to be present in the soils of the Chicago, Illinois, environment. Communities of Chicago now have access to a citywide map that will set forth an estimated amount of lead contamination in soils.
According to the study, 20% of the city's soils are higher than 400 parts per million (ppm). The average amount of lead in the soil was 220 ppmwhich is approximately 11 times higher than the natural level of 20 ppm. Some south-side neighborhoods had lead levels in the soil of more than 1,000 ppm. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency follows the federal EPA rate of 400 ppm, though other states set forth different levels, such as the California EPA has a lower level of 80 ppm