Iola, Kansas, was the home of several zinc and lead smelting plants during the early 1900s. These plants have since been demolished; however, the lead contamination that these smelters distributed throughout the city of Iola still remains as a health risk.
EPA began testing residential soil for lead contamination in 2006. Approximately 1,500 properties were tested by the time sampling concluded in 2007. Cleanups of properties with 800 parts per million (ppm) or more were performed during the testing effort. Additional information regarding the 2006/2007 removal actions can be found at the following website: http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=2480
In 2013, EPA returned to Iola to test residential properties that were not tested in 2006-2007. The 2013 testing identified about 1,050 properties above the screening level of 400 ppm. Approximately 350 of these properties have lead at or above 800 ppm.
EPA returned to Iola in September 2015 to continue the cleanup of residential properties with lead concentrations above 800 ppm and other areas which meet defined criteria. The cleanup is addressing lead contamination at schools, daycare facilities and residences.
