News Releases

Manitoba Environment, Climate and Parks and Manitoba Health are releasing the results of new independent lead in soil testing in Winnipeg, which shows the concentration of lead in soil continuing to decrease. 

The independent Lead in Soil Testing in Winnipeg report was commissioned as a followup to a 2019 report from Intrinsik that identified areas within Winnipeg that may have elevated lead concentrations in soil. More than 2,000 surface soil samples in the higher-risk areas identified in the Intrinsik report were collected from areas most often used by children under the age of seven, as they are at greater risk from lead exposure. This included 200 public sites in 40 Winnipeg neighbourhoods, including City of Winnipeg parks and school grounds.

Over 94 per cent of the sites tested were below the national guidelines for lead in soil. Overall, the results are generally lower than previous samples taken in the same neighbourhoods and have been decreasing over the last several decades. However, one site in the Mission Industrial area is above guidelines. Manitoba Environment, Climate and Parks will be working with the City of Winnipeg to address this concern. 

Property owners of sites with lead in soil levels above the national guideline have been notified and will be required to take steps to reduce potential exposure. This approach will depend on the amount of lead in the soil and how the land is used, and could include adding or improving sod cover. 

The health risk of exposure to lead in soil is low. There are many things people can do to help reduce their exposure including handwashing after touching soil, particularly before eating. The risk of lead exposure is also significantly lower when soil is covered with grass, concrete, asphalt or other materials, or when soil is frozen or covered with snow. 

Lead exposure has declined significantly in Canada in the last 30 to 40 years with the removal of lead in gasoline, paint and other products. All people are exposed to trace amounts of lead through air, soil, household dust, food, drinking water and consumer products. Children and fetuses are more sensitive to lead exposure than adults and even low levels of exposure can have negative effects on their behaviour and intellectual development.

Effective May 1, 2022, elevated blood lead levels will be reportable to Manitoba Health on an interim basis to help identify significant sources of lead exposure and determine the next steps to address them.