FW: Lead in soil



> ----------
> From: 	fxm3@madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu[SMTP:fxm3@madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu]
> Sent: 	Monday, March 01, 1999 7:15 AM
> To: 	veggie-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: 	Lead in soil
> 
> I grew a garden last year in an area behind my garage, the only area of my
> yard thatgets proper sunlight for veggies. There was paint chipping off my
> garage ontothe ground, but I thought nothing of it. This year, a new book I
> got for Christmas, The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch, states that if
> you see paint chips on the ground where you want to garden, you should have
> the soil tested for lead, and if levels are elevated, you shouldn't grow
> edibles there. I downloaded an article from the cooperative extension
> service at Ohio State that gave some more info, such as since the lead
> generally stays in the top several inches of soil, that raised beds can be
> used to reduce the risk of lead being taken up by the plants, or growing
> fruiting vegetable like tomtoes and peppers rather than root or leaf
> vegetables, as lead concentrates in roots and leaves rather than fruit. I
> asked two doctors about this subject, and one said I have nothing to worry
> about, that children need to actually ingest the paint chips in order to be
> poisoned,  while another said it's possible that levels in plants could be
> high enough to be dangerous. Th reason I am concerned this year and didn't
> think about it last year is that my son was too young last year to eat
> anything from the garden, but this year he's old enough to eat anything,
> and I'm concerned for his health. I've written the cooperative extension
> service for info on how to collect soil samples and where to send them to
> be tested, but I was wondering if any of you on this list have any more
> info than what I've found.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Frank
> 
> Frank Mularo
> fxm3@po.cwru.edu
> (216)368-4914
> 
> 
> 
>
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