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Exploring the Potential Risk of Heavy Metal Pollution of Edible Cultivated Plants in Urban Gardening Contexts Using a Citizen Science Approach in the Project “Heavy Metal City-Zen”

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth Ziss

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Wolfgang Friesl-Hanl

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Sophia Götzinger

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Christoph Noller

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Markus Puschenreiter

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Andrea Watzinger

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Rebecca Hood-Nowotny

    (Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Urban gardening has become increasingly popular, creating green oases in cities; however, many of these activities are undertaken in areas of high traffic density or on ex-brown field sites. As a consequence, there are still some barriers to the adoption of these urban gardening practices for food production. One of the public concerns is the transfer of urban pollutants such as heavy metals into the consumer’s food chain, however, city-wide data is often difficult and expensive to collect. In the citizen science project described herein, we conducted simple citizen-led common collaborative experiments in urban community gardens. These data provided information on the potential risk of heavy metal contaminants and ways in which to mitigate those risks in an urban gardening context. Generally, values were below guideline thresholds, however, at a few garden sites, soil trace metal concentrations (Pb, Cd, Zn) exceeded Austrian recommended limits. Moreover, only at two sites were plant trace metal concentrations shown to be above European food standards limits. Given the citizen’s positive response to the project, we suggest expanding this study to the whole of Vienna, giving newly established gardens a chance to predetermine the risks posed by their local soils.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Ziss & Wolfgang Friesl-Hanl & Sophia Götzinger & Christoph Noller & Markus Puschenreiter & Andrea Watzinger & Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, 2021. "Exploring the Potential Risk of Heavy Metal Pollution of Edible Cultivated Plants in Urban Gardening Contexts Using a Citizen Science Approach in the Project “Heavy Metal City-Zen”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8626-:d:607166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thierfelder, Holle & Kabisch, Nadja, 2016. "Viewpoint Berlin: Strategic urban development in Berlin – Challenges for future urban green space development," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 120-122.
    2. Litt, J.S. & Schmiege, S.J. & Hale, J.W. & Buchenau, M. & Sancar, F., 2015. "Exploring ecological, emotional and social levers of self-rated health for urban gardeners and non-gardeners: A path analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1-8.
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    Cited by:

    1. Monica Laura Zlati & Lucian Puiu Georgescu & Catalina Iticescu & Romeo Victor Ionescu & Valentin Marian Antohi, 2022. "New Approach to Modelling the Impact of Heavy Metals on the European Union’s Water Resources," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-24, December.

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