12 The Julian News
EARTH
TALK00
Questions & Answers
About Our Environment
Dear Earth Talk: What are
"ghost factories?"
--Philip Walker, Hartford, CT
In April 2012, USA TODAY
published a series entitled
"Ghost Factories," a report
on an investigation into lead
contaminated soil in hundreds
o( neighborhoods around the
U.S. where lead factories once
operated. The investigation
addressed the lack of action
taken by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to test
and clean up these sites despite
having been warned in 2001
about the dangerous levels of
lead contamination around the
areas of these old facilities.
The factories, which used a
process called smelting to melt
down lead, were in operation from
the 1930s until the 1960s when
they began to shut down. While
the factories themselves may
now be gone, their toxic legacy
remains, as they have left behind
significant amounts of poisonous
lead particles in surrounding
soils. The lead particles are
particularly dangerous for
children who live and play in
these areas. "Lead poisoning
occurs when lead builds up in
the body, often over a period
of months or years," reports
the Mayo Clinic, adding that
even small amounts of lead can
cause serious health problems.
"Children under the age of 6 are
especially vulnerable to lead
poisoning, which can severely
affect mental and physical
development [and] at very high
levels...can be fatal."
Environmental scientist William
Eckel warned government
officials Of the dangers of old lead
factories in his research article
"Discovering Unrecognized
Lead-Smelting Sites by Historical
Methods," which was published
in the American Journal of Public
Health in April of 2001. Eckel
used EPA databases along
with lead industry directories to
compile a list of more than 400
Unsafe levels of lead contaminate soil in hundreds of
neighborhoods around the U.S. where lead smelting facilities
operated between the 19305 and 1960s. Children under the
age of six are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which
can severely affect mental and physical development. Pictured:
Rusty remains at an old lead smelting mill.
Photo Credit: Simon Bowen
possible factory sites around
the country that may have been
unknown or forgotten over time.
In an effort to create some
urgency for federal regulators, he
paid to have the soil around eight
of the sites tested and all but one
exceeded the EPA's hazard level
for residential areas. More recent
soil tests done by USA TODAY
revealed that all 21 areas that
were examined in 13 states had
potentially dangerous enough
lead levels that children should
not be playing in that dirt. This
meant, of course, that cleanups
of these sites had not been done.
In response to Eckers findings
and the USA TODAY series, EPA
has initiated work with states
to survey the majority of the
sites on the 2001 list, although
records for many of the affected
areas are incomplete. "1 am
convinced we have addressed
the highest-risk sites," reports
Elizabeth Southerland, director of
assessment and remediation for
the EPA's Superfund program.
She says her agency is open to
reassessing sites that may need
another look thanks to more
recent information uncovered by
USA TO DAY.
Unfortunately, ongoing federal
budget woes mean that resources
are severely limited. In fact, the
EPA lacks funds to complete
even previously scheduled
Superfund remediation projects.
In the meantime, individual
homeowners can determine
whether or not they live near
a former lead smelter and can
apply pressure to local authorities
accordingly. USA TODAY has
posted a free online map to help
people figure out exactly where
the danger zones might be.
CONTACTS: USA TODAY
"Ghost Factories," http://
usatoday30, usatoday, com/news/
nation/lead-poisoning; "Discovering
Unrecognized Lead-Smelting
Sites by Historical Methods," www.
ncbi. nlm. nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC1446633/pdf/11291377.pdf.
EarthTalk® is written and edited
by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
and is a registered trademark of E -
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Kids And Money
continued from page 3
their money is going on a daily
basis. To learn more, visit www.
Mint.com/blog.
Debt and Credit
Don't skip lessons on debt
and credit. Everyone needs
to understand how borrowing
money works. Demonstrate how
interest works by loaning kids a
small amount of money with a
five percent interest charge. After
they've repaid the loan, compare
the amount they paid back
versus the amountt they originally
borrowed.
Let them Be
Your goal is to end up with
kids who are financially savvy,
so don't micromanage their
July 31, 2013
Apple Junction Real Estate, Inc.]
Paul Bicamc Owner/Broker
Active over 30 years full time in Julian Real Estate
www.AJRE.com 760.765.2878 / 760.484.7793
luhan l.and00, .Sale
.49 ACRES - Kentwood, water meter, Rer d se , house plans - $59,000.
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1ACRE. Seller will provide County ed= septlC:O, O00.'"'
1.19 ACRES. Recently surveyed, 5uikg s existi septic system, all utilities available,
Harrison Park - $110,000. :. .... " .....
1.64 ACRES-Pine Hills, has septippr 1 Bedroom in-$50,000.
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mot,rated to negotiate All CASHOffeE $85,i ;:: :
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Paved road - $219,000. ,:,j:' ,
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2.77ACRES. FoundatksOLQroom septic system, water storage tank - $109,000.
finances..It's tough, but you have
to let kids set their own goals and
in some cases, make their own
mistakes. Know when to step
in and provide assistance, but
remember -- children will better
enjoy learning about money if
you let them make their own
decisions.
The bottom line is that money
management shouldn't feel like
a chore, but an essential part of
the way we live. Start early to set
children on a financially savvy
path for life.
(NAPSA)-The simple-to-install ODL
Tubular Skylights let you brighten
dark spaces with natural sunlight.
Also available is a Solar Powered
Dimmer. Learn more at www.ODL.
corn, call (866) 635-4968 or view a
demonstration on YouTube.
***
The opulence of Art Deco and
period-inspired home furnishings
are more popular than ever, says
Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president
of the American Home Furnishings
Alliance. You can find further
furniture facts and decorating advice
online at www.findyourfurniture.com.
I LUMBER & SUPPLY CO. I
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Paintirg & General Contractor #4590]8
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our dad has been taking
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