Do the metals and arsenic being studied accumulate in garden vegetables?
Many of the metals and arsenic being studied as part of the Sudbury Soils Study do not accumulate in garden produce in a significant way. For example, edible portions of plants seldom accumulate high levels of arsenic, because arsenic at high levels is more likely to kill the plant before concentrations reach levels of concern for human health. Cobalt, copper and nickel concentrations in garden produce are generally at much lower levels than those found in soils. A home garden study was conducted in the summer of 2003, which measured concentrations of metals and arsenic in gardens throughout the Sudbury area. Results of that study were included in the human health risk assessment which indicated that metal levels in home-grown vegetables in the Sudbury area did not pose unacceptable risk to people.
