It was common practice to bury the housing debris into the basement or in a pit on the property instead of paying hauling fees to take debris to a landfill. This type of demolition left behind contaminated soil from housing debris such as lead paint, underground storage tanks, plumbing or insulation. Soil lead contamination is one of the major contamination concerns because of the presence of lead-based paint from old housing stock and its effects on young children. Arsenic is another soil constituent naturally occurs in most Rhode Island soils but which may be higher in Providence soils because of industrialized uses. In some cases, past commercial uses such as plating shops, gas stations, or dry-cleaners also may have contributed to soil contamination on vacant lots.
Soil contamination can also be a direct result of litter or debris that is dumped onto vacant lots.
Illegal dumping that occurs on vacant properties can contribute to the level of risk associated with a lot s condition. Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning from soil lead contamination. This is true because lead-contaminated soil clings to fingers, toys, and other objects children normally put in their mouths. This is the most common way that lead in soil is ingested by children. Lead does not pass through unbroken skin.