CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Environmental investigators have taken more than 200 soil samples in neighborhoods in downtown Chattanooga and have found high lead levels in more than 10 percent of them.

State and federal environmental regulators have already begun a lead removal project in one area of the city, but the samples show that there is a possibility of more areas that could have lead contamination in Chattanooga.

Troy Keith, with the state Department of Environment and Conservation, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/R4OY7U ) that the investigation into the contamination is ongoing and they intend to follow up on the findings in the additional soil samples.

Environmental officials say they are still trying to determine where the lead came from as they remove contaminated soil in an area called Southside.