Why is Gilpin testing its residents blood for lead?

Why is Gilpin testing its residents blood for lead?

From The Mountain-Ear Podcast by The Mountain-Ear Staff

May 15, 2026 · 19 min · Season 6 · Episode 39

About this episode

The episode discusses the health risks of lead exposure in Gilpin County and features an interview with Public Health director Alisa Witt.

Colorado's largest Superfund site by area stretches 400 square miles across Gilpin and Clear Creek counties. The site has been in remediation for nearly five decades, and a new scope of remediation is assessing the health risk of lead left behind by historic mining to residents. At Gilpin County's annual health fair on May 9, public health workers were testing residents' blood for lead. On today's episode, we sat down with Gilpin's Public Health director Alisa Witt to find out the risks this ...

People in this episode

Guest: Alisa Witt

Topics covered

  • public health
  • lead testing
  • environmental remediation
  • mining impact
  • community health

Keywords

  • lead testing
  • Gilpin County
  • public health
  • Superfund site
  • mining
  • health risks
  • blood testing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Public Health

Places: Gilpin County, Clear Creek counties, Colorado

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