Parents coming back to New Orleans may have one less thing to worry about, says environmental health expert Maureen Lichtveld, chair of environmental health sciences at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The state of the environment in the city is ready to welcome back its residents, Lichtveld says. Every public building -- from restaurants to Tulane's own campus facilities -- was recently inspected by environmental health specialists and other health officials to ensure health and safety.

Changes in the lead levels in the soil were initially a concern, but Lichtveld says current levels match those collected before the storm. Tulane environmental health experts and epidemiologists in the city and state health agencies have long monitored the lead exposure to New Orleans children. That information has been instrumental in assessing Katrina's impact.

"The levels of lead in the soil are the same here today as you would expect in any urban area, whether it's Los Angeles or New York or New Orleans," Lichtveld says.

With respect to mold, Lichtveld says there is no standardized method to measure the magnitude of exposure to mold, which is why the recommendation is simply to remove everything where mold is visible and wear protective gear while doing the cleanup work.

Children shouldn't be present during the mold cleanup, she says, primarily because they cannot take proper precautions -- available masks and other safety gear do not fit children. Likewise, she reminds parents to "air out" the house after using cleaning solutions or paint.

"Handle painting and renovation work just as you would with a new house or basic remodeling -- open windows and doors or use air vents to let all the chemicals dry before bringing the children in. With children or adults who have pre-existing conditions such as asthma, you want to take extra precautions. In addition to avoiding exposure to irritants, it is important to consult your physician and continue to take your medication."

A risk to children often overlooked, Lichtveld says, are injuries from sharp objects or debris in the yard. It is important to clean up play areas.

Lichtveld is drawing her recommendations from data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Quality and reviewed by public health experts from the New Orleans Health Department, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She says it is important to remember that it is not merely the level of a contaminant that determines a risk to public health. In most cases people have to be exposed repeatedly over a period of time before they are at risk.

"I am confident that the data we have are reliable," Lichtveld says. "Is New Orleans safe for children? Absolutely."

For an in-depth analysis of environmental health data, go to http://www.tulane.edu/newwave/environmental_update.html