Lead in the Soil (5012)

Soil-borne lead can be a serious health hazard in the home landscape. Lead is toxic to humans, particularly to pregnant woman and children. The lead found in soil comes from leaded paint, gasoline industrial manufacturing, and leaded solder used on copper plumbing. Lead is an element and therefore cannot be broken down into harmless by-products. Humans are exposed to lead by breathing in or ingesting soil or by eating vegetables coated with soil containing lead. In low pH soils with very high lead levels, lead may be taken up and stored in root crops like carrots and beets.
To minimize your exposure to lead in the garden take these precautions:
1. have your soil tested for lead
2. permanently cover high lead areas with turf or mulch
3. wash and peel fruits and vegetables
4. maintain soil pH levels in the 6.5-7.0 range and add lots of organic matter on a regular basis; organic matter binds up soil lead and keeps it from becoming soluble
5. do not let children play in contaminated soil
6. locate garden beds away from the exterior of older homes

Finally, if soil lead levels are high, build a raised bed, line the bottom and insides with
black plastic, and fill it with uncontaminated soil.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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