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...

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Autores principales:	Fernando Montaño-López, Asim Biswas
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/bda49682331e4c16aaefca5dabee8123
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:bda49682331e4c16aaefca5dabee81232021-12-02T14:47:38ZAre heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada10.1038/s41598-021-90368-32045-2322https://doaj.org/article/bda49682331e4c16aaefca5dabee81232021-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90368-3https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract 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 estimated the pollution levels using two index-based approaches and assessed their potential risk for human health, although concentrations of most heavy metals were below the limits established by Canadian regulations, metals like Cd, Pb, Se and Zn exhibited a mild degree of pollution, whereas As exhibited a severe degree. Their association with vulnerable populations were weak, but hotspots were mainly located in low-income areas. This case study provides scientific evidence that could help to expand our understanding around the interconnection between pollution and poverty/racial inequality. Also the importance of generating strategies for the protection of human health and sustainable soil management practices in urban areas where food for human consumption is grown.Fernando Montaño-LópezAsim BiswasNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Fernando Montaño-López Asim Biswas Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
description	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 estimated the pollution levels using two index-based approaches and assessed their potential risk for human health, although concentrations of most heavy metals were below the limits established by Canadian regulations, metals like Cd, Pb, Se and Zn exhibited a mild degree of pollution, whereas As exhibited a severe degree. Their association with vulnerable populations were weak, but hotspots were mainly located in low-income areas. This case study provides scientific evidence that could help to expand our understanding around the interconnection between pollution and poverty/racial inequality. Also the importance of generating strategies for the protection of human health and sustainable soil management practices in urban areas where food for human consumption is grown.
format	article
author	Fernando Montaño-López Asim Biswas
author_facet	Fernando Montaño-López Asim Biswas
author_sort	Fernando Montaño-López
title	Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
title_short	Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
title_full	Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
title_fullStr	Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
title_full_unstemmed	Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada
title_sort	are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? a case study from guelph, canada
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/bda49682331e4c16aaefca5dabee8123
work_keys_str_mv	AT fernandomontanolopez areheavymetalsinurbangardensoilslinkedtovulnerablepopulationsacasestudyfromguelphcanada AT asimbiswas areheavymetalsinurbangardensoilslinkedtovulnerablepopulationsacasestudyfromguelphcanada
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Are heavy metals in urban garden soils linked to vulnerable populations? A case study from Guelph, Canada

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