Rebecca G Mitchell1, Henry M Spliethoff2, Lisa N Ribaudo2, Donna M Lopp3, Hannah A Shayler4, Lydia G Marquez-Bravo2, Veronique T Lambert3, Gretchen S Ferenz3, Jonathan M Russell-Anelli4, Edie B Stone5, Murray B McBride4. 1. Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1743, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA. Electronic address: rgm13@health.state.ny.us. 2. Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1743, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA. 3. Cornell University Cooperative Extension - NYC, 40 East 34th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10016, USA. 4. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. 5. NYC Parks GreenThumb, 49 Chambers Street, Room 1020, New York, NY 10007, USA.
Abstract
Urban gardens provide affordable fresh produce to communities with limited access to healthy food but may also increase exposure to lead (Pb) and other soil contaminants. Metals analysis of 564 soil samples from 54 New York City (NYC) community gardens found at least one sample exceeding health-based guidance values in 70% of gardens. However, most samples (78%) did not exceed guidance values, and medians were generally below those reported in NYC soil and other urban gardening studies. Barium (Ba) and Pb most frequently exceeded guidance values and along with cadmium (Cd) were strongly correlated with zinc (Zn), a commonly measured nutrient. Principal component analysis suggested that contaminants varied independently from organic matter and geogenic metals. Contaminants were associated with visible debris and a lack of raised beds; management practices (e.g., importing uncontaminated soil) have likely reduced metals concentrations. Continued exposure reduction efforts would benefit communities already burdened by environmental exposures.
Urpan class="Chemical">ban gardens provide affordable fresh produce to n>an class="Chemical">communities with limited access to healthy food but may also inpan class="Chemical">crease exposure to lead (Pb) and other soil contaminants. Metals analysis of 564 soil samples from 54 New York City (NYC) community gardens found at least one sample exceeding health-based guidance values in 70% of gardens. However, most samples (78%) did not exceed guidance values, and medians were generally below those reported in NYC soil and other urban gardening studies. Barium (Ba) and Pb most frequently exceeded guidance values and along with cadmium (Cd) were strongly correlated with zinc (Zn), a commonly measured nutrient. Principalcomponent analysis suggested that contaminants varied independently from organic matter and geogenic metals. Contaminants were associated with visible debris and a lack of raised beds; management practices (e.g., importing uncontaminated soil) have likely reduced metalsconcentrations. Continued exposure reduction efforts would benefit communities already burdened by environmental exposures.
Authors: Henry M Spliethoff; Rebecca G Mitchell; Lisa N Ribaudo; Owen Taylor; Hannah A Shayler; Virginia Greene; Debra Oglesby Journal: Environ Geochem Health Date: 2013-11-28 Impact factor: 4.609
Authors: Marie Lynn Miranda; Dohyeong Kim; M Alicia Overstreet Galeano; Christopher J Paul; Andrew P Hull; S Philip Morgan Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Henry M Spliethoff; Rebecca G Mitchell; Hannah Shayler; Lydia G Marquez-Bravo; Jonathan Russell-Anelli; Gretchen Ferenz; Murray McBride Journal: Environ Geochem Health Date: 2016-01-11 Impact factor: 4.609
Authors: Murray B McBride; Hannah A Shayler; Henry M Spliethoff; Rebecca G Mitchell; Lydia G Marquez-Bravo; Gretchen S Ferenz; Jonathan M Russell-Anelli; Linda Casey; Sharon Bachman Journal: Environ Pollut Date: 2014-08-28 Impact factor: 8.071