Study finds 70% of remediated Los Angeles yards still exceed lead limit
Why it matters: Dangerous lead levels persist in 70% of remediated LA yards, directly impacting residents' health.
- 70% of remediated yards in Southeast Los Angeles continue to exceed California's lead limit, according to a UC Irvine study.
- Dangerous levels of lead persist in residential neighborhoods surrounding a former battery smelter, even after significant environmental remediation.
- The remediation effort was one of the largest in California history, yet failed to adequately address lead contamination in most affected yards.
A new UC Irvine study reveals that 70% of Los Angeles yards remediated after lead contamination from a former battery smelter still exceed the state's lead limit, indicating persistent danger despite one of California's largest environmental cleanups. This suggests the extensive remediation efforts have been largely insufficient in fully protecting residents from lead exposure.
