TERRE HAUTE —
With gardening season fast approaching, local educators are encouraging the community to get the lead out.
Saturday morning, dozens of participants gathered inside the homey atmosphere of Clabber Girl’s first floor to engage in a community workshop addressing the presence of lead in local soils. Part of Indiana State University’s Community Semester program, the presentation titled “Science Cafe — The Legacy of Leaded Gasoline, Lead-Based Paint, and Coal” featured Jennifer Latimer, professor of earth and environmental systems, as well as question and answer periods.
John Murray, dean of the university’s College of Arts and Science, said Saturday’s program is one of a 40-part series scheduled through spring, with topics ranging from Native American burial mounds to the science of bats.
“Every department is doing their own thing,” he said, surrounded. “It’s really to bring what we’re doing in the academic world into the community.”
Latimer explained that free lead testing is available through the university, and the issue isn’t limited to the paint in old buildings.
“A lot of people are broadly aware that lead content is a problem,” she said.
The “legacy environmental problem” of lead in soils is the result of many contributing factors, from fossil fuels to power plants, she explained. And once in the soil, it tends to remain there.
“The problem with lead is it’s not mobile in soils,” she said.
Children exposed to lead can suffer a wide range of neurological problems ranging from lowered IQ to heightened aggression and learning disabilities, she explained.
Urban gardeners should take this into consideration when planting food plants. Gardening techniques such as raised beds and various fertilizer schedules can all help combat the problem, she added.
“Lead is a serious issue, but it’s probably one of the most manageable,” she remarked.
Jim Speer, director of the university’s Institute for Community Sustainability, said the topic raises a lot of concerns as its cause is multifaceted. Terre Haute, he said, has double the lead problem relative to other communities, and 11 percent of its children under age 6 experience lead poisoning.
“We’re not sure what exactly causes it. It’s probably a lot of contributing factors,” he said, pointing out Terre Haute’s proximity to a power plant, the volume of train traffic carrying coal, and other cars using gasoline here.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Educators warn of lead problem in Terre Haute
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Not just graffiti: Children learn to express inner positive thoughts, expand vocabulary through street art
The scribble of chalk brushing up against a stone wall could be heard Wednesday as children showed their creativity at the 14th and Chestnut Community Center. The messages on the wall were straightforward: “We are ... artistic, amazing, hope, funny, unique.”
-
An honor for the ages: Famous Terre Haute sculptor comes up with unique memorial to fete veterans
“Until they all come home” are the words written on the concrete floor clearly visible to workers and onlookers as part of the centerpiece to the new Montezuma Veterans Memorial that was set in place Wednesday afternoon at Aztec Park in Parke County.
-
MARK BENNETT: Forget the cellphone, enjoy the summer
The third rail post from the left on the second-floor patio. By holding a cellphone at eye level, with your left hand, while standing perfectly still, without blinking, a faint one-bar signal was possible. Possible. Otherwise, there was no connection to the outside world at this retreat spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where my wife and I stayed earlier this month
-
National group gives ISU low marks for training teachers
A national research and advocacy group has given Indiana State University — and more than a dozen other Hoosier colleges and universities — low marks for how it trains teachers.
-
Holcomb, other top leaders leaving Indiana GOP helm
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb leads a number of high-level departures from the state party half a year after the 2012 elections.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 19, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Right lane of U.S. 41 South closed at Harlan Road
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. – An intersection improvement project on U.S. 41 and Harlan Road has closed the right lane for southbound traffic beginning today. This lane closure is scheduled to last about one month.
-
Terre Haute Coke & Carbon: Cleaning up a legacy
When heavy equipment starts moving dirt next week at the former Terre Haute Coke and Carbon industrial site, city officials hope a new day will be dawning for a long-neglected part of town.
-
Diversity growing: New census report shows changing face of Indiana
Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites.
-
Valley following diversity path of nation, Indiana
Like much of Indiana, the majority white population in the Wabash Valley is on the decline, while minority populations are on the increase.
-
Court lets walkout fines against House Democrats stand
House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse two years ago during a legislative session won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Arrest made, victim identified in Rosedale homicide
The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Vermillion industrial park gets award for transition
The Vermillion Rise Mega Park, a former chemical weapons base now an industrial park north of Clinton, has gotten national attention for its rapid transition to civilian from military use.
-
Slight damage from evening storm
Very little damage was reported from a late evening storm that rolled through the Wabash Valley on Tuesday.
-
U.S. 41 lane restrictions
Motorists should expect delays because of lane restrictions on U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as a railroad company repairs a rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Lane restrictions next week on U.S. 41 at Shelburn
SHELBURN, Ind. – Motorists should expect minimal delays because of lane restrictions for U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as the railroad company makes repairs to the rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain’s tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago.
-
UPDATE: Parke County homicide victim identified
ROSEDALE — The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Court lets walk-out fines against House Democrats stand
INDIANAPOLIS — House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 18, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Obama Welcomes WNBA Champions to White House
Steven Tyler, Joe Perry on Award, Tour, 'Idol'
Paula Deen Admits to Using N Word
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Men's Wearhouse Founder Fired
Miss Utah Explains Rambling Response
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
