The only lead tester in this contaminated neighborhood graduates next month

Kim Booker spent nearly 27 years in Trenton, New Jersey, without giving much thought to lead. A native of the city, once a hub of industry, she first became aware of the lead issue through the East Trenton Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on local environmental health and safety. It was here she discovered that lead pipes and paint from the past possibly tainted her home’s water and surrounding soil.

Knowing her home was old and likely had lead pipes, Booker noticed the paint chipping on the walls. It also struck her that her grandmother and sister, who both suffered from Alzheimer’s, might have been affected by lead exposure, as studies suggest a connection. Concerned about potential poisoning, she sought answers.

With limited free testing resources, Booker reached out to Shereyl Snider from the collaborative, who introduced her to Sean Stratton, a doctoral student at Rutgers University in late 2023. Stratton, who was studying lead contamination in Trenton homes for his dissertation, conducted tests on her paint, yard, and water.

The test results confirmed her suspicions: her home was contaminated with lead, and she had low levels of lead in her bloodstream. Her yard’s lead levels exceeded 450 parts per million, surpassing the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazard level. Without Stratton’s intervention, she might never have known.

“The city shouldn’t rely on a student to do this work,” Stratton commented.

Stratton’s comprehensive lead testing, priced at over $1,000, has been crucial for residents. In the past two years, he has tested over 140 homes in Trenton, uncovering a widespread crisis. Despite the EPA adding East Trenton to the Superfund National Priorities List due to significant soil contamination, no extensive testing effort has been initiated, leaving people like Booker dependent on Stratton’s work.

However, Stratton’s project is ending. With his dissertation defended in February and graduation approaching in May, the future of this work is uncertain. Groups like East Trenton Collaborative fear losing their only accessible testing option.

“We don’t want to stop working together,” Snider emphasized. “I don’t see it ending, but I don’t know how we can continue unless we have big supporters to help support our future endeavors together.”

New Jersey faces a significant lead issue, with an estimated 350,000 lead service lines, ranking it among the top ten states. Despite receiving over $100 million in federal funds for lead pipe replacement, other issues like soil contamination and interior lead paint remain unaddressed.

The existing testing options, like blood lead screening and water sampling, do not form a coherent system, according to Stratton. The health department conducts paint inspections only after poisoning is confirmed, and while lead testing is free for young children, older individuals must pay. Trenton Water Works provides test kits for older homes, but soil testing is neglected unless the EPA intervenes.

This fragmented approach leaves families with incomplete information, and results can take weeks, if they arrive at all. Amber DeLoney-Stewart, a resident, never received her inspection results, even after her child’s blood tests showed lead exposure.

Without comprehensive outreach or a mandate for proactive screening, residents struggle to navigate the maze of programs, often missing crucial information, Stratton noted. “It just doesn’t ever seem to be enough,” he said, describing the system as “very siloed.”

Stratton’s work is part of a larger trend where university researchers assist communities with limited government monitoring. For example, an Emory University project revealed high lead levels in Atlanta, leading to federal action, while UCLA provided soil testing after wildfires. These efforts often depend on temporary projects, ending when students graduate or funding lapses.

Stratton’s East Trenton research was backed by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the federal government. Despite budget cuts during the Trump administration, his projects survived, though future opportunities are uncertain. Brian Buckley, the institute’s director, mentioned the struggle to maintain funding, saying, “We’ve been playing dodge the bullet.”

Stratton didn’t initially plan to study lead contamination. After earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Rutgers University in 2015, he worked in environmental consulting in New Jersey, focusing on contaminated sites. Around that time, the Flint water crisis unfolded, exposing thousands to lead.

Prompted by a concerned friend, Stratton tested water at his New Jersey home, finding lead levels over 78 parts per billion, far exceeding the EPA’s action level. This led him to explore public records, revealing inconsistent testing practices in East Brunswick.

Motivated by these findings, Stratton contested for State Assembly with the Green Party in 2017, advocating for safe drinking water. Although unsuccessful, he returned to Rutgers for graduate studies in public health, eventually pursuing a doctoral program.

Stratton’s doctoral research aimed to confirm lead exposure in Trenton, identify its sources, and propose reduction strategies. He used an X-ray fluorescence gun to assess paint, collected morning water samples, and gathered soil from yards.

After completing tests, he returned to his Rutgers lab to analyze results, providing residents with detailed reports and guidance on next steps, including blood lead testing options.

In February, Stratton presented his findings at his dissertation defense, revealing that most homes contained lead in dust, paint, or pipes. Floor dust levels exceeded the EPA’s action level in 86 percent of cases.

He also discovered that homes without lead-based paint still faced risks from external dust, stemming from various sources like gasoline and historical ceramics manufacturing. He recommended expanding safety guidelines to include water filters, as flushing taps for five minutes was insufficient.

A week later, he shared these insights with over 30 attendees at Rutgers, celebrating with collaborators and community members. He gifted them 3D printed urban maps of East Trenton as tokens of appreciation.

The EPA’s designation of East Trenton as a Superfund site promises a cleanup, but only for soil, with no plans yet for pipes or paint. Residents, familiar with prolonged waits for remediation, are cautious.

Stratton’s research offered immediate guidance for residents like Booker, who have since taken steps to minimize lead exposure.

“I use a vacuum to clean my floors and carpets instead of stirring up dirt and dust particles by sweeping,” Booker said. “When my nieces come over and want to run around in the yard, I make sure they remove their shoes when they come inside and wash their hands.”

Booker credits Snider, Stratton, and the East Trenton Collaborative for raising lead awareness and hopes the community will continue advocating for a healthier environment.

“Knowledge is only powerful and beneficial if its effects change,” Booker stated. “We can know there is a problem, but without action, the problem simply remains.”