Lead on soil

[Moa2025]

Hi,
We recently tested our eggs for lead and found highly elevated levels. We then tested our soil, which also showed high lead content. Although our house was repainted about 8 years ago with lead-free paint, we believe the contamination is from old lead paint that has persisted in the soil, which is surprising.

We're considering covering the soil with decomposed granite (3 inches?) followed by mulch in our chickens' free-range area, which measures approximately 384 square feet.

Are there any other remediation suggestions you would recommend? We are located in the North California, Bay Area.

 

[ChaosMom]

Hi,
We recently tested our eggs for lead and found highly elevated levels. We then tested our soil, which also showed high lead content. Although our house was repainted about 8 years ago with lead-free paint, we believe the contamination is from old lead paint that has persisted in the soil, which is surprising.

We're considering covering the soil with decomposed granite (3 inches?) followed by mulch in our chickens' free-range area, which measures approximately 384 square feet.

Are there any other remediation suggestions you would recommend? We are located in the North California, Bay Area.

Zeolite might be what you need, per a guest lecturer at my university (UNC Asheville) recently. https://www.latimes.com/california/...cleanup-experiment-science-art-social-justice

Zeolite clinoptilolite, the type of mineral used in the project, is marketed for both human consumption and even for pets and livestock, Celestian said. It’s a naturally growing mineral that if digested does not break down at the molecular level and simply passes through the body.

The interesting thing (to me) is that zeolite is popular among chicken people as a means of controlling excess ammonia in coops. It's commonly sold as Sweet PDZ, which is Zeolite clinoptilolite as mentioned above.

Aaron Celestian, PhD, curator of Mineral Sciences with the LA Natural History Museum (who is quoted in the article), was the lead scientist in the cleanup of the massive Exide Battery dump clean-up that poisoned the soil of thousands of residences in the LA area. He was also our guest speaker. I don't have the details on amounts administered etc., but he certainly does and could point you to someone who could help: [email protected]

Good luck!

 

[ChaosMom]

Hi,
We recently tested our eggs for lead and found highly elevated levels. We then tested our soil, which also showed high lead content. Although our house was repainted about 8 years ago with lead-free paint, we believe the contamination is from old lead paint that has persisted in the soil, which is surprising.

We're considering covering the soil with decomposed granite (3 inches?) followed by mulch in our chickens' free-range area, which measures approximately 384 square feet.

Are there any other remediation suggestions you would recommend? We are located in the North California, Bay Area.

-and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I lived for several years in the Richmond CA area and worked at the SF VA.