The Army National Guard has failed to address widespread lead contamination in its armories, posing a health risk to soldiers and the public, especially at facilities used for community activities like youth soccer.
Nick Turse reports for The Intercept.
In short:
- National Guard armories, many with indoor firing ranges, contain dangerous levels of lead dust, affecting both soldiers and civilians.
- A 2020 Army audit revealed that 600 to 1,300 armories nationwide still have lead contamination, despite decades of warnings and partial cleanups.
- Public spaces like New Jersey’s Teaneck Armory, which hosts youth soccer events, may expose children and families to toxic lead.
Key quote:
“You can’t take a power-washer and use it to clean a facility. That’s prohibited. It’s just going to spew lead everywhere — and it embeds it in all kinds of places and then it comes back out.”
— Maria Doa, senior director at Environmental Defense Fund
Why this matters:
Lead exposure is linked to serious health issues, including kidney damage, hypertension, and irreversible neurological harm, especially in children. Failing to fully remediate armories puts both soldiers and local communities in danger.
