More preschools, day-care centers, parks and private schools are being tested for lead contamination as part of the continuing cleanup in the Exide Technologies aftermath.
California regulators are testing locations in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Maywood, Bell, and Huntington Park as part of a newly announced state plan, the Los Angeles Times reports. The community around the former battery recycling plant in Vernon continues to undergo testing and cleanup after it was discovered that soil in the surrounding area tested positive for dangerous levels of lead.
The newly tested properties were found by the state Department of Toxic Substances Control during a neighborhood canvassing, the department tells the LA Times. The department plans to have these newly identified properties cleaned up before the end of the year. The number of properties that require attention could increase as crews continue to work, the LA Times writes.
Over 4,000 homes across several cities have been tested for lead contamination. Among the properties affected are two Boyle Heights schools. Soil at Lorena Street Elementary and Rowan Avenue Elementary was removed earlier this year after DTSC found high levels of lead at the two schools.
Soil sampling records show most of the homes surrounding the Exide plant exceed the state standard for lead levels and some go above that which classifies hazardous waste. The state issued $176.6 million to assist the cleanup and DTSC plans to use that money to test 10,000 properties. An environmental study needs to be conducted first before the full cleanup can start. That’s expected to be complete sometime next year.
