PhD Student Tests 140 Homes for Free in Lead Crisis

Sean Stratton graduates from Rutgers University next month, and an entire neighborhood is worried about what happens next.

For two years, the public health doctoral student has been the only person offering free, comprehensive lead testing to families in East Trenton, New Jersey. He's tested soil, water, and paint in more than 140 homes, giving residents critical information they couldn't afford to get anywhere else.

Kim Booker learned her story the way many Trenton residents did. After 27 years in her three-bedroom home, she suspected the old paint and pipes might contain lead, especially after her grandmother and sister both developed Alzheimer's, which researchers have linked to lead exposure.

Professional testing costs over $1,000. Booker couldn't afford it until Stratton knocked on her door in late 2023.

The results confirmed her fears. Lead levels in her yard measured more than 450 parts per million, above EPA's hazard threshold. She also had low but detectable lead in her bloodstream.

"If not for Stratton, she would not have known," the testing revealed. And she's not alone.

Last July, the EPA added East Trenton to the Superfund National Priorities List after finding widespread soil contamination in yards, schools, and parks. But there's been no door-to-door testing effort, leaving families to navigate a confusing maze of limited options on their own.

New Jersey has 350,000 lead service lines, ranking among the top 10 states. It's received over $100 million in federal funds for pipe replacement, but that doesn't address soil contamination or interior paint.

The existing system is fragmented. Kids get mandatory blood tests at ages one and two, but older children and adults pay out of pocket. The health department inspects paint only after a child tests positive for lead poisoning. Water testing kits exist but require families to coordinate and pay for lab analysis themselves.

The Ripple Effect

Stratton's work shows what's possible when someone bridges the gaps in our public health system. His dissertation assembled the clearest picture yet of lead contamination across Trenton, giving families actionable information to protect their children.

Community leader Shereyl Snider hopes to continue the partnership after graduation. "We don't want to stop working together," she said. "I don't see it ending, but I don't know how we can continue unless we have big supporters."

The story highlights a larger truth: sometimes one dedicated person can illuminate a crisis that institutions have overlooked. Stratton proved that comprehensive testing is possible and desperately needed.

Now the question is whether anyone will pick up where he left off.