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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #362046
Research Project: Environmental and Plant Factors That Influence Trace Element Bioavailability in Food Crops

Location: Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory

Title: The safe urban harvests study: assessing exposure to six toxic metals among urban agriculture participants in Baltimore, MD

Author
item LUPOLT, SARA - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health
item SANTO, RAYCHEL - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health
item KIM, BRENT - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health
item Green, Carrie
item Codling, Eton
item CHEN, RUI - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health
item RUIE, ANA - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health
item NACHMAN, KEEVE - Johns Hopkins School Of Public Health

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2019
Publication Date: 8/5/2019
Citation: Lupolt, S., Santo, R., Kim, B., Green, C.E., Codling, E.E., Chen, R., Ruie, A., Nachman, K. 2019. The safe urban harvests study: assessing exposure to six toxic metals among urban agriculture participants in Baltimore, MD. Meeting Abstract. 50:2033-2040.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: Urban agriculture (UA) is increasing in popularity due to its numerous sociocultural, health, environmental, and economic benefits, but few groups have evaluated exposure to soil contaminants among urban agriculture participants (UAPs). The community driven Safe Urban Harvests Study aims to characterize potential exposure to six toxic metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel) in soil, irrigation water, and urban grown produce among UAPs in Baltimore, MD. Methods: We recruited, surveyed, and collected samples of water and soil, from 104 (70% of eligible) farms and community gardens growing food during the 2017 season. At 72 sites, we collected 1-7 of the thirteen most commonly grown produce items (e.g., kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers) and purchased those same items from grocery stores and farmers markets in Baltimore. We measured total metal concentrations in water using ICP-MS and in soil using ICP-Optima. Produce analysis is in progress at the time of abstract submission. Results: Five (<5%) water samples (n=114) exceeded US EPA's drinking water standard for lead (15ppb). Median concentrations of all six metals in soil were below the most conservative residential restricted New York Soil Cleanup Objective (NY SCO). 38 (6.2%) of soil samples exceeded the NY SCO for lead (400ppm) and 238 (45%) of samples exceeded the NY SCO for chromium (III) (36ppm). Discussion: These results are the first to evaluate metal contamination among UA sites in Baltimore to address safety perceptions and will inform specific guidance for reducing exposure. Our long-term goal is to describe and quantify UA activities that may increase soil exposure, in order to evaluate the adequacy of existing guidelines for soil contaminants to protect UAPs who have frequent, direct contact with urban soil.