Lead‑laden paint chips spill from Baltimore bridge

A recent inspection by the Maryland Department of the Environment found that paint fragments falling from Baltimore’s 28th Street Bridge carry dangerous levels of lead. The agency was alerted after residents noticed orange and white debris along Falls Road, near the 2700 block. Tests confirmed that these chips contain more lead than is considered safe for the environment.The investigation showed that paint has been peeling off the bridge and dropping onto the road and into the Jones Falls stream below. Because the paint contains lead, it poses a risk to wildlife and people who use the waterway. The department ordered the city to collect all of the loose paint chips and treat them as hazardous waste. The city was also told to repair the bridge so that no more paint falls into the stream. The Department said it would keep checking to make sure Baltimore follows through and protects public health. If the city does not comply, it could face fines for each day it remains in violation of state environmental laws.