"WASHINGTON -- A U.S. senator questioned federal environmental health officials at a hearing Thursday about what is being done to address lead poisoning risks posed by contaminated soil around hundreds of old lead factory sites featured in a recent USA TODAY investigation."

"'Generations of children are growing up playing in the shadow of these lead smelting plants,' said U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. 'Throughout the nation, the USA TODAY report shows lead contamination has had a devastating impact … it's obvious we could help fix this problem if the EPA had the resources to fully test and clean up' the sites."

Alison Young reports for USA TODAY July 12, 2012. [2]