Soil Contamination in the United States

           

           It is often said that awareness is the first step toward change. This blog has highlighted the dangers of soil contamination and emphasized that it is a global issue. However, seeing a problem in a different way can often times help inspire action.

            The U.S. Geological Survey released a set of maps that show distribution of selected contaminants in soil across the United States.  In order to create the maps, about 40 people collected thousands of soil samples from over 4,500 sites throughout the country from 2007 to 2010.  They collected three samples from each site, from the surface down to approximately three feet.  Scientists then analyzed the samples for 45 elements, including contaminants such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. The information was then compiled and the maps were created, lending a new view on the soil in the United States.

            To access all of the maps and read more about the national-scale project, please visit the U.S. Geological Survey website at: http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/getting-the-dirt-on-soil/?from=textlink.