TIPS to reduce risk from soil contamination
If you are worried about lead contamination in the soil, there are simple things that you can do to reduce your risk!
1) Test your soil through a professional laboratory. The at-home soil test kits that we provide give you a good idea about the lead content in your soil, but these kits do not replace a professional test conducted by a laboratory. If you would like to have a professional analysis of your garden soil, please contact us and we will help you arrange to have your soil professionally tested.
2) Buy or create raised garden beds (1). These gardens are anywhere from a few inches to a few feet off the ground, and they are separated from the contaminated soil beneath. This allows gardeners to grow their fruits and vegetables in soil that is healthy and uncontaminated. This is also a great solution for elderly gardeners who have trouble bending down. If you'd like to learn how to build your own raised garden bed, Lowe's provides step-by-step instructions. They tell you all the supplies that you'll need, and some great things to avoid. If you do not have the means to buy or create a raised garden bed, you can also remove the top few inches of soil from your garden, and replace it with clean, uncontaminated soil (1).
1) Test your soil through a professional laboratory. The at-home soil test kits that we provide give you a good idea about the lead content in your soil, but these kits do not replace a professional test conducted by a laboratory. If you would like to have a professional analysis of your garden soil, please contact us and we will help you arrange to have your soil professionally tested.
2) Buy or create raised garden beds (1). These gardens are anywhere from a few inches to a few feet off the ground, and they are separated from the contaminated soil beneath. This allows gardeners to grow their fruits and vegetables in soil that is healthy and uncontaminated. This is also a great solution for elderly gardeners who have trouble bending down. If you'd like to learn how to build your own raised garden bed, Lowe's provides step-by-step instructions. They tell you all the supplies that you'll need, and some great things to avoid. If you do not have the means to buy or create a raised garden bed, you can also remove the top few inches of soil from your garden, and replace it with clean, uncontaminated soil (1).
3) Build your garden far away from contaminated sites (2). Foundations of older homes are painted with lead paint, and the chipped paint can fall and leach into your garden's soil. By building your garden far away from your home's foundation, your garden is better protected (2).
4) Build a barrier around your garden (2). This prevents children and pets from getting into your garden and ingesting soil. You can also place a layer of mulch on your soil to prevent them from getting to the the actual soil (2).
5) Practice good hygiene (2). Wash your hands with soap after gardening or just use gloves. Also, leave your shoes outside before entering your home. This ensures that soil doesn't get tracked through the home (2).
6) Clean your vegetables thoroughly (2). Make sure to rinse your vegetables in water and peel any root vegetables. This is a great way to reduce soil ingestion (2).
7) Test your water. The water from your home that is used to water your garden may also contain traces of lead due to lead piping. If you are concerned about the concentration of lead in your drinking water, contact the City of Hamilton to arrange a residential water quality test. In addition, many homes and businesses in Hamilton are deciding to change their lead plumbing pipes to copper pipes. McMaster University has already taken the initiative to change all drinking fountains on campus that were previously connected to lead pipes. If you are interested in replacing your lead pipes, contact the City of Hamilton.
8) Ensure that your soil pH level is above 6.5 (2). This prevents the lead from being taken up by the plants in your garden. To do so, add lime to your soil. You can also add organic matter to your soil, such as manure, which will bind to the lead and make it unavailable to your plants (2).
4) Build a barrier around your garden (2). This prevents children and pets from getting into your garden and ingesting soil. You can also place a layer of mulch on your soil to prevent them from getting to the the actual soil (2).
5) Practice good hygiene (2). Wash your hands with soap after gardening or just use gloves. Also, leave your shoes outside before entering your home. This ensures that soil doesn't get tracked through the home (2).
6) Clean your vegetables thoroughly (2). Make sure to rinse your vegetables in water and peel any root vegetables. This is a great way to reduce soil ingestion (2).
7) Test your water. The water from your home that is used to water your garden may also contain traces of lead due to lead piping. If you are concerned about the concentration of lead in your drinking water, contact the City of Hamilton to arrange a residential water quality test. In addition, many homes and businesses in Hamilton are deciding to change their lead plumbing pipes to copper pipes. McMaster University has already taken the initiative to change all drinking fountains on campus that were previously connected to lead pipes. If you are interested in replacing your lead pipes, contact the City of Hamilton.
8) Ensure that your soil pH level is above 6.5 (2). This prevents the lead from being taken up by the plants in your garden. To do so, add lime to your soil. You can also add organic matter to your soil, such as manure, which will bind to the lead and make it unavailable to your plants (2).
Additional Links
Visit the Environmental Health Perspective Journal and learn more about managing contaminated soil.
To learn more ways to improve your contaminated garden soil and to avoid exposure to many other types of contaminants take a look at this fact sheet provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to assess your soil to find out if there is any concern with your urban garden.
To learn more ways to improve your contaminated garden soil and to avoid exposure to many other types of contaminants take a look at this fact sheet provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to assess your soil to find out if there is any concern with your urban garden.
References
1. EPA. (2011). Reusing potentially contaminated landscapes: growing gardens in urban soils. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov.
2. Gartley, K. L. (2002, March). Note 17: managing lead contaminated soils. Retrieved from http://ag.udel.edu.pdf.
1. EPA. (2011). Reusing potentially contaminated landscapes: growing gardens in urban soils. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov.
2. Gartley, K. L. (2002, March). Note 17: managing lead contaminated soils. Retrieved from http://ag.udel.edu.pdf.
