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' 9 <br /> generally range from S - 50 parts per million'. Also, <br /> industrial sources such as smelters, recycling facilities, and _ <br /> mining activities can result in lead contamination at residential <br /> areas . This adds difficulty in relating lead levels in soil to <br /> potential health effects because lead from different sources may <br /> pose different levels of potential hazard. One apparent <br /> difference is the extent to which ingested lead originating from <br /> different ' sources is taken up into the body- -that is, the <br /> bioavailability of the lead. Decisionmakers should consider this <br /> and any other available information when implementing the <br /> recommendations contained in this guidance, particularly where <br /> non-paint sources of lead are involved. That is , if the soil is <br /> contaminated by lead from other sources, rather than lead-based <br /> paint , decisionmakers should investigate the types of lead <br /> compounds present and their unique characteristics . Agency <br /> guidance on consideration of bioavailability of lead in risk <br /> assessment can be found in the Guidance Manual for the Integrated <br /> Exposure Uptake Bickinetic Model for Lead in Children (available <br /> from National Technical Information Service, U. S . -Dept . of <br /> Commerce, Attn: Sales, Springfield, VA 22169 (703/487-4650) , as <br /> document number PB 93-963510) . <br /> S- il lead concentrations in the Unit :d States vary widely, <br /> from less than one to tens of thousands of parts per million <br /> (ppm) . This range of concentrations and attendant potential <br /> exposure levels indicates that it is appropriate to develop a <br /> scaled strategy of risk reduction activities , depending upon the <br /> concentrations at particular locations and other site-specific <br /> factor . The Agency' s recommendations for response activities at <br /> varying soil lead concentrations are as follows . <br /> The Agency is recommending that (depending upon use <br /> patterns , populations at risk, and other factors) , when lead <br /> concentrations are observed that exceed 400 ppm in bare soil , <br /> further evaluation should be undertaken and physical exposure- <br /> reduction activities , commensurate with the expected degree of <br /> risk, are appropriate .' The Agency believes that the 400 ppm <br /> 'U. S . Environmental Protection Agency (1989) Review of the <br /> National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead: Exposure <br /> Analysis Methodology and Validation. U.S. EPA Office of Air <br /> Quality Planning and Standards , RTP, NC. EPA-450/2-89/011 . <br /> 'The selection of 400 ppm in this guidance is based upon two <br /> decisions . The first is that the level should help in reducing <br /> the threat that environmental lead poses to the public . In this <br /> guidance, EPA estimates that beginning exposure reduction <br /> activity at 400 ppm will help ensure that a typical child or <br /> group of children exposed to lead would have an estimated risk of <br /> no more than 5% of exceeding a blood lead level of 10 pg/dl . <br /> This benchmark may change in the future section 403 rulemaking. <br /> 9 <br />