ABSTRACT

Urban and ex-urban residents have been increasingly utilizing community gardens to supplement their diets, foster relationships with neighbors and learn new skills. Soils in urban-region community gardens, however, can be detrimental to human health if contaminated with metals. In this study, the soils of 20 Philadelphia-region community gardens (and produce from 6 gardens) were analyzed for heavy metal content (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb) to assess bioavailability, determine relationships with environmental and demographic variables and compare with published safe limits. About 58% of soil samples and 86% of produce samples were above their respective safe lead level. Metal concentrations in garden produce differed between produce types, with the highest concentrations of As, Cr, Co and Cu found in root and leafy vegetables and the lowest concentrations found in fruiting vegetables. Philadelphia-region community gardeners are exposed to unsafe levels of metals both from the soil and from consumed produce.

摘要

城市和外地居民越来越多地利用社区花园来补充饮食、培养与邻居的关系并学习新技能。然而，城市地区社区花园的土壤如果受到金属污染，可能会对人类健康有害。在这项研究中，对费城地区 20 个社区花园（以及 6 个花园的农产品）的土壤进行了重金属含量（As、Cd、Cr、Co、Cu、Ni、Pb）分析，以评估生物利用度，确定与环境和土壤的关系。人口统计变量并与公布的安全限值进行比较。约 58% 的土壤样本和 86% 的农产品样本的铅含量均高于各自的安全铅水平。园艺产品中的金属浓度因产品类型而异，其中砷、铬、Co和Cu存在于根类和叶类蔬菜中，并且在果类蔬菜中含量最低。费城地区的社区园丁接触到来自土壤和消费农产品的不安全水平的金属。