LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY GARDENS OF MOBILE, ALABAMA

Community gardens in Mobile, AL play a crucial role in promoting local food production, fostering a strong sense of community, and building social connections among residents. Gardens provide access to fresh and healthy produce, which is especially valuable for those who might not have such access otherwise. Additionally, community gardens contribute to environmental sustainability by creating green spaces, supporting biodiversity, and reducing food transportation distances.

Since community garden sites are limited to available land, which may have a history of variable land use in urban settings, legacy pollutants like lead may be present in soils. Lead can be found in soil due to natural occurrences, historical industrial activities, vehicle emissions, lead-based paint deterioration, agricultural practices, improper waste disposal, and atmospheric deposition. Exposure to lead poses a considerable health risk, particularly for children who may inadvertently ingest or inhale lead-contaminated soil or eat contaminated produce. Here we present data on the distribution of lead in community garden soils collected throughout Mobile, Alabama. We measured lead concentrations in 131 topsoil samples (0-10 cm sampling depth) from 10 community gardens. Samples include in situ soils and raised garden bed soils. The average lead concentration is 119 μg/g, with a standard deviation of 251 μg/g. The highest concentration measured was 635 μg/g. We measured 7 samples between 400-650 μg/g which were above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently sets a lead limit of 400 μg/g in residential soils.

Our results indicate that 5 of the 10 gardens surveyed have samples exceeding the limit for residential. Overall, soil lead concentrations in community gardens in Mobile are within safe ranges for growing food crops. Nevertheless, further sampling, assessment of new garden sites, and proactive management of lead levels in community garden soil should continue, ensuring the ongoing safety and well-being of the community members who use these gardens for food production and social engagement.