OAKWOOD VILLAGE, Ohio — More than one month after the explosion at I. Schumann & Co. in Oakwood Village that killed one person and injured more than a dozen more, a report shows high levels of lead in the soil near the site.
Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) took independent soil samples two weeks after the explosion and gathered data just days after.
Organization President Yvonka Hall says any samples over 400 parts per million (ppm) are alarming.
"There are like 20 day care centers in that area," Hall told 3News. "There are people's homes in that area."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency views lead in soil a hazard if it exceeds 400 parts per million in a play area for children. In the report gathered by CLASH, two samples along Alexander Road came back with 3,144 ppm and 1,651 ppm. All other samples were below 200 ppm.
"For us, the most important thing is making sure that the community understands the dangers of lead poisoning and what it can do to them," Hall said.
WKYC reached out to the Ohio EPA Thursday morning, but has not heard back. In emails provided to us by CLASH, officials did tell activists the agency "does not have data to determine what concentration of lead occurred" on the day of the explosion and that "Ohio EPA has not received any data to suggest off site soil contamination relating to the incident." However, "[d]ata is routinely being gathered as cleanup work continues."
Meanwhile, I. Schumann & Co. gave us the following statement:
"The company has had a full incident response team on-site since the explosion and continues to cooperate fully with local, state and federal officials. Based on activities undertaken to date, the company does not believe there has been any off-site impact that puts the surrounding community at risk. The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing. The company hopes to have further information to share with the community in the coming weeks."