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Soil Contaminants in Community Gardens

John Folstad, Sharon C. Long, Doug Soldat
Revised:  2/17/2011
Item number:  A3905-03

As interest in community and home gardening continues to grow nationwide, an increasing number of gardens are being sited in dense urban areas or on or near former industrial, agricultural, or commercial land. Any of these areas may contain contaminated soil, so it is important to be aware of the risks posed by exposure to certain chemicals and to take precautions. Learn about types and sources of potential contaminants, the basics of soil testing, and how to limit exposure to contaminants.

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