Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada.

ABSTRACT: With increasing population, there is growing concern for food security in urban areas. Though, urban gardening has gained popularity, several studies have found higher concentrations of contaminants in urban soils, especially heavy metals, often at toxic levels, which pose a potential risk for human health. Moreover, heavy metal polluted sites have been strongly associated with areas populated by low-income families, newcomers and racial minorities. In this study, heavy metals in the soils of community gardens in the city of Guelph, ON were examined as a case study and their relationship with vulnerable populations. We analyzed soil samples at two depths for a range of heavy metals and characterized their spatial patterns to see if they were related to disadvantaged communities. We estimat

SUBMITTER: Montano-Lopez F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8163869 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature