Investigation of Heavy Metals in a Green Space Corridor: Sources, Health Concerns and Mitigation Strategies

As urbanization increases, so does the demand for multi-functionality of limited green spaces. However, as urbanization intensifies, so does contamination associated with urban development into these green spaces. One related concern is heavy metal exposure for humans in green spaces associated with community gardens, urban agriculture and children’s play spaces. This becomes an issue when heavy metals enter the soil, are taken up by vegetable plants and are then consumed by humans or when children play in soils with heavy metals and are exposed through dermal contact or inhalation of dust.

This white paper first reviews the literature concerning both sources of heavy metal contaminants in urban agriculture and green spaces and current remediation/prevention methods available. Secondly, it uses a section of the Arbutus Corridor in Vancouver as a case study to assess contamination of heavy metals in community gardens, the surrounding native soil and whether a number of physical barriers adjacent to a traffic corridor prevent or limit the contamination of heavy metals into the community garden’s soils and vegetation.