Lead and cadmium in dusts and soils in a small urban community

TLDR: In and around well-kept homes painted with low lead paints situated in a small urban community, large amounts of lead and cadmium are found, and high trace metal amounts are also found at nonresidential sites.

Abstract: In and around well-kept homes painted with low lead paints situated in a small urban community, large amounts of lead and cadmium are found. High trace metal amounts are also found at nonresidential sites. Much of the lead is probably of automotive origin. Lead levels in dusts within homes average 600 ppM and 680 ..mu..g/m/sup 2/. In nonresidential interiors, dusts average 1400 ppM Pb and 2040 ..mu..g Pb/m/sup 2/. Unexpectedly high cadmium accumulations are found, especially in carpet dusts from rubber-backed carpets. High nonresidential settled dust and soil lead contents are due to higher traffic flows. The lead content of outdoor residential dust is 600-1950 ppM and 90-6640 ..mu..g/m/sup 2/. These values increase several times around nonresidential sites. Lead and cadmium from trace urban dusts are a significant addition to the child body burden.