About
The LFC Toolkit is a resource to support communities of all sizes and varieties in lead hazard elimination. Louisville, KY demonstrates practical applications of the strategies, tools, and resources outlined in the Toolkit.
Community Story
Madison County, Missouri, was once one of the world's largest lead mining districts, producing over 9 million tons of lead since the 1700s. Now, the entire county is designated as a Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to widespread lead contamination. Lead contamination in soil is a particularly urgent issue in Madison County, as mining waste was transported to residential areas and used as soil and ground fill at residences, playgrounds, yards, and parking areas. It was also used as road base throughout the county.[1]
Because lead mining is such an integral part of Madison County's history, public health officials have faced hurdles in educating the community about the harmful effects of lead exposure. They have historically found many residents to be dismissive of the dangers of lead exposure, with some asserting "I've lived here all my life, and there's nothing wrong with me."
Taking Time to Build a Plan the Community Can Support
For many years, Madison County Health Department (MCHD) has been working to change local perspectives on lead contamination, build support for lead exposure prevention programs, and strengthen relationships between local public health authorities and community members. In the late 1990s, MCHD established a community task force on lead and health, which continues to guide their lead hazard elimination. Given the complexity of building a comprehensive lead hazard elimination plan in a community where many have been skeptical about the health impacts of lead exposure, MCHD officials were deliberate about not rushing the planning process. They believe establishing and following a solid plan is particularly important for developing strong public health programs and building trust, as any misstep or failed effort can lose community trust and make it much more difficult to engage the community in future efforts.
MCHD encourages other communities to take their time to create a thorough action plan tailored to the needs of their community and to build support for it locally. Demonstrating the case for remediation and being thoughtful about how to articulate why it is needed are two key components of MCHD's approach to gaining support for lead remediation activities.
Using "Gentle" Messaging to Build Trust
MCHD officials share information about lead hazards through what they refer to as "gentle" messaging. For example, MCHD offers information about living, working, and playing safely "in our historical lead mining community." This style of communication does not blame, shame, or disparage the community's history. Rather, it focuses on presenting information in understandable terms and respecting individuals' ability to make decisions for themselves and their families based on their experiences and the facts available.
This approach to educating the community about lead hazards and options for addressing hazards has fostered a sense of openness to engaging with public health programs locally. For example, as of April 2024, a team from the health department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other partners, has sampled the soil of 5,500 of the county's 6,074 properties and remediated 2,100 properties. An additional 300 properties with lead contamination levels above 400 parts per million will be remediated over the next 5 years. This is an unprecedented level of voluntary participation in a public health program in this community.
Key steps taken
- Developed plans for lead hazard elimination and building community support over time
- Gathered and shared data in a thoughtful way to build support for local public health programs
- Built trust and encouraged engagement in public health programs by using "gentle" understandable messages
- Respected people's ability to make informed decisions