Exploring Exposure to Heavy Metals in Louisville

Brian Guinn and Charlie Zhang conducted field soil sampling at 75 neighborhood parks across Jefferson County. Funded by a New Hypothesis Expansion/Direction (medium) award from University of Louisville’s Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (CIEHS), their project investigates the geospatial disparities in exposure to toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and others. Preliminary analysis reveals a distinct pattern of uneven distribution, with parks located in the western portion of the county exhibiting significantly elevated levels of lead. These findings underscore serious environmental and public health risks for residents - particularly children - in historically segregated neighborhoods throughout the community.