What should be done if soil lead levels are found to be 5,000 PPM or greater?

When soil lead levels are found to be 5,000 PPM (parts per million) or greater, it signifies a serious health risk due to the high potential for lead exposure, especially in areas frequented by children or pregnant women. The correct course of action is to implement abatement measures. This is crucial because high levels of lead in soil can lead to significant health issues, including developmental problems in children and various other health conditions.

Implementing abatement measures involves actions such as removing contaminated soil, treating the soil to reduce lead levels, or taking other remedial actions to minimize exposure to lead. These measures are essential to ensure the safety of the environment and protect public health.

While other options may seem relevant to dealing with lead contamination, they do not adequately address the immediate need for intervention that arises from such high lead levels in the soil. Ignoring the findings is irresponsible and dangerous, and merely closing the area does not resolve the underlying issue of contamination. Conducting a risk assessment is important but typically occurs after acknowledging the contamination and before implementing abatement measures. Thus, taking proactive steps to remediate the contamination is the necessary and effective response.