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December, 4, 2025
Watch the recently recorded M-CLEAN meeting
If you missed the M-CLEAN meeting on Nov. 13, the link to the recording is on the M-CLEAN webpage. To request a copy of the presentation slides, please email Duzong Yang at Duzon...@state.mn.us.
The next M-CLEAN meeting will be in the spring of 2026. The date, time, and location will be announced soon.
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Lead Hot Topics Spotlight: Community lead testing events
SoilSHOP soil testing events
Soil Screening, Health, Outreach, and Partnership (SoilSHOP) events offer community members free lead screening of soil collected from their gardens or outdoor play areas. This year, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) participated in four SoilSHOP events, where many residents brought soil samples from around their garden and yard for testing. For reference, the EPA’s lead thresholds are 200 parts per million (ppm) for yards and 100 ppm for gardens. Across all four events, soil lead results ranged from a low of 2.7 ppm to a high of 329 ppm, with an average of 31.9 ppm.
These events help raise awareness about lead in the environment and provide residents with education, screening results, and guidance on reducing exposure when lead is present.
If you are interested in partnering on a SoilSHOP event in your community, please connect with MDH at 651-201-4897 or email health...@state.mn.us.
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Ramsey County lead testing and community resource fair
In recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in October, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Ramsey County, and several community partners hosted a free lead testing and resource fair at the Battle Creek Recreation Center in St. Paul. The event saw a great turnout of community members, who had the opportunity to receive resources and information from eight programs, get a free blood lead test, and have household items screened for lead. Blood lead testing plays a critical role in early detection, helping families identify potential exposure and take steps to protect their children’s health.
Learn more about common sources of lead (PDF) and information for families about getting a blood lead test (PDF).
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FDA recalls nine more cookware products that may leach lead into food when used for cooking or food storage
In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning about certain imported aluminum, brass, and aluminum-alloy cookware that may be leaching harmful levels of lead into food. They recently added nine more cookware products to the list. Young children, and people who are pregnant or nursing may be at higher risk for lead exposure after eating food cooked in these products.
Consumers are encouraged to review the FDA’s list, check their cookware at home, and contact their county environmental health on how to safely discard any affected items. Retailers and distributors should immediately stop selling the products. It is recommended that anyone with concerns about potential lead exposure should speak with their health care provider. The FDA is actively working to remove unsafe cookware from the market and will continue updating its list as new products are identified. Read more and view the complete list of products.
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Attend MPCA's skin-lightening products stakeholder meeting on Dec. 10
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold a virtual stakeholder meeting on skin-lightening products on Dec. 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. This virtual meeting will provide agency updates related to skin-lightening products. The agency is seeking feedback from community partners, public health agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders. The session will also focus on outreach efforts to educate businesses about the ban on mercury in products.
More information and the Webex link to join is on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency webpage.
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