East St. Louis “Biosolid” Lead Remediation Project Project Sponsor: Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc. Funding Provided by: USDA-NRCS Technical Assistance: US Environmental Protection Agency Alvey Laboratories, Inc. Ms. Sally Brown, Ph.D. University of Washington

Regional Background East St. Louis once supported a thriving river-front industrial community, including many lead smelters and paint producers. Over the past 50 years industrial sites have become abandoned, and much of the cities infrastructure has become archaic. This once vibrant city, is now listed as one of the poorest communities in the nation. Heavy metal contamination from prior industrial activities has been documented in neighborhoods throughout the community.

Current Issues One out of five children within certain E. St Louis neighborhoods are being reported as positive for lead poisoning. Many of these neighborhoods have been geographically linked to the location of former industrial sites. The lead poisoning is affecting older children, as they play in the soil surrounding their homes and schools. East St. Louis does not have the funding to complete the clean-up of all of the identified sites.

Metro-East Lead Collaborative The St. Louis Metro-East Lead Collaborative was formed to address lead-based issues, including soil contamination, within the region. Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc. was asked to join the effort in 2000 to review alternative methods of dealing with soil-based lead contamination. Our focus originally focused on a process termed “phytoremediation”, a process that utilizes plants to absorb heavy metals.

Biosolid Remediation This process utilizes large quantities of composted yard and human waste (biosolids) in conjunction with phosphorous and lime to tie-up, or inactivate lead. The process does not remove lead from soil, but instead binds the metal to the soil particles so that if ingested most would simply pass through a body rather than being absorbed. Large mining operations in western states have been implementing this process to reclaim blighted lands.

Project Goal To define the processes and equipment, identify suppliers and establish evaluation methods that will allow for the implementation of a biosolid lead remediation project on a small-scale, inner- city site in the St. Louis Metro-East area.

Prior Site Conditions

Site Preparation

Biosolid Compost 400 cubic yards per acre

Distribution Equipment

Compost Application

Compost Coverage

After Compost Incorporation

Preparing Seed Bed

Process Verification In vitro lead – that portion that could be absorbed in the gastrointestinal system Total lead – EPA 3050A total acid digest Bioaccessibility Value (BV) = in vitro Pb / total Pb x 100 Averaged values for sample locations: In vitro Total BV Pre-treatment Post-treatment

Site Conditions 2 months following application

Project Benefits Reduced costs compared to traditional lead remediation methods. Reuse of other materials, including yard waste and waste treatment, reducing pressure on landfills. The biological nature of this process will increase the effectiveness of the procedure over time. The rate of absorption of lead into the bloodstream is reduced.

Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc. A complete final report for this project can be viewed at: or contact: Dave Eustis Special thanks to USDA NRCS for providing funding for this project.