title: Lead (Pb) and other metals in New York City community garden soils: factors influencing contaminant distributions.
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.
authors: 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.
authors: Rebecca G
authors: RG
authors: Mitchell
authors: Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1743, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA.
authors: Henry M
authors: HM
authors: Spliethoff
authors: Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1743, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA.
authors: Lisa N
authors: LN
authors: Ribaudo
authors: Cornell University Cooperative Extension - NYC, 40 East 34th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors: Donna M
authors: DM
authors: Lopp
authors: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: Hannah A
authors: HA
authors: Shayler
authors: Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1743, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA.
authors: Lydia G
authors: LG
authors: Marquez-Bravo
authors: Cornell University Cooperative Extension - NYC, 40 East 34th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors: Veronique T
authors: VT
authors: Lambert
authors: Cornell University Cooperative Extension - NYC, 40 East 34th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors: Gretchen S
authors: GS
authors: Ferenz
authors: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: Jonathan M
authors: JM
authors: Russell-Anelli
authors: NYC Parks GreenThumb, 49 Chambers Street, Room 1020, New York, NY 10007, USA.
authors: Edie B
authors: EB
authors: Stone
authors: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: Murray B
authors: MB
authors: McBride
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009519:New York City; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Community garden; Lead (Pb) exposure; Soil contaminants; Urban agriculture; Urban soil