Which statement about sources of lead in soil is correct?

Which statement about sources of lead in soil is correct?

• A. Chipped paint, gas
• B. New mulch
• C. Gravel only
• D. Soil moisture only

Answer: (A)

Lead in soil mainly comes from older uses of lead-containing products, particularly lead-based paint and leaded gasoline. When exterior paint on homes chips or flakes, the lead in that paint can shed dust and chips that settle into the surrounding soil. Historically, gasoline with tetraethyl lead released lead into the air, and that lead settled into soils along streets, driveways, and near homes. New mulch doesn’t introduce lead, and gravel doesn’t inherently add lead to soil; moisture in soil isn’t a source of lead itself, it only affects how lead moves once it’s in the soil. So the statement that chipped paint and gas are sources best captures the common, historical ways lead gets into soil.

Lead in soil mainly comes from older uses of lead-containing products, particularly lead-based paint and leaded gasoline. When exterior paint on homes chips or flakes, the lead in that paint can shed dust and chips that settle into the surrounding soil. Historically, gasoline with tetraethyl lead released lead into the air, and that lead settled into soils along streets, driveways, and near homes. New mulch doesn’t introduce lead, and gravel doesn’t inherently add lead to soil; moisture in soil isn’t a source of lead itself, it only affects how lead moves once it’s in the soil. So the statement that chipped paint and gas are sources best captures the common, historical ways lead gets into soil.