Some of the allotments in the city have too high a concentration of lead in the soil. This can pose health risks if gardeners grow vegetables in that soil or if small children put fingers filled with soil in their mouths.
This is evident from a new study, councilors Rutger Groot Wassink (Municipal Real Estate) and Reinier van Dantzig (Housing and Urban Development) announced today. This concerns a random sample of 28 gardens spread across 13 allotment parks.
Strongly elevated values
Strongly elevated values were found in five individual gardens, spread across the Amstelglorie, Nut en Genoegen and Sloterdijkermeer parks. Eleven gardens were moderately contaminated and twelve gardens were clean.
According to Groot Wassink and Van Dantzig, the health risks are small, but they do write that it is important that small children do not come into contact with contaminated soil. This can affect the development of their brains and how they can learn.
Containers with clean soil
In adults, consuming too much lead for years can lead to slightly higher blood pressure and reduced kidney function. This can be prevented by washing hands after gardening and by growing vegetables in containers with clean soil.
The councilors write that the research ‘is not a representative sample on that basis
reliable conclusions can be drawn. Allotment gardeners are therefore given the opportunity to do a so-called ‘lead check’ themselves. The first allotment gardeners will probably be approached by the municipality in March this year.
2024-02-27 15:36:19
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