A New Jersey playground was closed due to high readings of lead in the soil, officials said Friday.
Two of four tests conducted by an outside geotechnical and environmental materials testing consultant found elevated levels of lead in the playground at Mary Benson Park in Jersey City, city officials said.
In one of the tests, the soil tested 410 milligrams per kilogram and in another, the soil tested 563 milligrams per kilogram, according to NJ.com - above the level considered safe, which is 400 milligrams per kilogram.
The elevated levels of lead were discovered by Jersey City's public works and architecture departments while they were preparing to install new playground equipment.
The city is investigating the cause of the high lead levels as it begins the cleanup process.
City officials said they will work with the Department of Environmental Protection to make the park safe enough for public use, though they do not know when the park will be reopened.
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