08/12/2026
Lead in Rhode Island Soil: Community Results
From May 1 through June 30, 2026, Roots 2Empower conducted community education, outreach, and soil screening in Providence and Newport Counties. The project focused on communities facing increased environmental and public health risks and provided residents with information about lead exposure, soil safety, and safer gardening practices.
Approximately 450 people were reached, 360 health education materials were distributed, 35 residents received one-on-one education, and 25 referrals were provided. Project records indicate that 41 soil samples were collected. The submitted results spreadsheet contains 39 documented laboratory results, listed below using sample identification numbers to protect participants’ privacy.
Risk-screening categories:
🟢 Low: 0–99 ppm
🟡 Potential concern: 100–200 ppm
🔴 High: Above 200 ppm
Documented results:
Roots-1: 109 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots-2: 187 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots2-3: 277 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-4: 137 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots-6: 255 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-7: 190 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots-8: 186 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots-9: 452 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-10: 995 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-11: 984 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-12: 2,776 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-13: 3,137 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-14: 99 ppm — 🟢 Low
Roots-15: 440 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-16: 317 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-17: 187 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
Roots-18: 255 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-19: 289 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-20: 256 ppm — 🔴 High
Roots-21: 534 ppm — 🔴 High
NEW-0: 114 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-1: 181 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-2: 263 ppm — 🔴 High
NEW-3: 160 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-4: 196 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-5: 127 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-6: 177 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-7: 169 ppm — 🟡 Potential concern
NEW-8: 736 ppm — 🔴 High
NEW-9: 380 ppm — 🔴 High
NEW-10: 512 ppm — 🔴 High
NEW-11: 607 ppm — 🔴 High
RootsNEW-12: 57 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-13: 78 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-14: 53 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-15: 46 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-16: 44 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-17: 38 ppm — 🟢 Low
RootsNEW-18: 51 ppm — 🟢 Low
Among the 39 documented results, eight were below 100 ppm, 13 were between 100 and 200 ppm, and 18 were above 200 ppm. Thirty-one results were above 100 ppm, including 10 above 400 ppm.
These screening results are intended to support community education and follow-up. They should not be interpreted as a complete environmental assessment of an entire property.
If you submitted a sample, have questions, or would like a copy of the project report, please contact Roots 2Empower at [[email protected]]
