After Lead Pollution Findings In Atlanta, A Free Program To Test Georgia Yards For Contamination

Natashia Jones, left, and Taranji Alvarado record information and clean their tools after taking soil samples for lead testing in Atlanta’s Grove Park neighborhood.

Molly Samuel / WABE

Last year, high levels of lead were found in English Avenue, a largely Black and low-income Atlanta neighborhood. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved and is conducting more testing and removing polluted soil from people’s yards and gardens.

Concern over that contamination has sparked a project to test soil across the state.

The initiative allows Georgians to check their yards for free and is led by Emory University and public health agencies. The deadline to send soil samples in is Sunday, Nov. 15.