80% of Exide Homes Cleaned

State officials announced on Friday that nearly 6,500 homes in Southeast Los Angeles have completed lead cleanup work. This milestone marks the removal of approximately 80% of the eligible properties where owners granted access, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.

The cleanup addresses toxic soil left behind by the former Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon. The facility operated for decades and contaminated yards in surrounding neighborhoods. When Exide filed for bankruptcy in 2020, the state assumed responsibility for the remediation.

The state has spent more than half a billion dollars on the project. Work is also finished at 12 schools, 68 child care centers, and five parks. State crews have cleaned more than 7,800 areas along streets and sidewalks.

Residents in the affected areas have raised concerns about lead exposure for years. Local resident Antonia Dominguez noted that the community faces repeated environmental stressors. She recalled the Exide contamination and the Lineage warehouse fire from this summer. "Exide really hurt this community, because it's already a low-income area with small businesses," Dominguez said. She asked how residents are expected to recover from ongoing disruptions.

Health experts state that lead exposure can damage the brain and nervous system. Young children face risks of learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and delayed development. Some families also report concerns about cancer and other illnesses linked to the pollution.

The Exide plant shut down in 2015 after a history of environmental violations. The state said the cleanup effort is ongoing. About 1,500 eligible properties still await completed work.