A biogeochemist with expertise in lead exposure reacted to the EPA’s controversial action level for lead in Butte.

“I am really surprised to read that they are using the 1,200 ppm standards, which is for soil in areas where children are not coming in contact with it,” said Gabriel Filippelli, chancellor’s professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

“They should take the precautionary approach and remediate down to 400 ppm, at least. In California, the remediation standard is 80 ppm,” he said.

PPM is an abbreviation for parts per million, a measurement that typically describes the concentration of a substance in water or soil.

You can read the rest of the story here. DUNCAN ADAMS (Montana Standard)