Poison at Play: Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds

By: Tristan Baurick, Verite, Halle Parker, Verite

Outlets: Louisiana Illuminator

Published: February 7, 2026

Words: 4,221

Last Updated: 3 weeks ago

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This four-month investigation was supported by a Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting grant funded by the National Press Foundation and the National Press Club Journalism Institute. It was also produced as a project for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s National Fellowship Fund and the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism.

Sarah Hess started taking her toddler, Josie, to Mickey Markey Playground in 2010 because she thought it would be a safe place to …

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