Trace Metal Content of Community Garden Soils in Metro Phoenix, AZ

Gardens are established in urban areas as a way to establish natural
spaces and fresh food in low affluence communities. A potential
problem of growing food in cities is that high levels of heavy metals
can exist in soils from proximity to industries and longterm
agriculture, which can be taken up my plants. This research measured
soil and plant Pb and Cd, two of the most prolific and high concern
metals, in order to determine if toxic levels beyond EPA standards of
metals exist in Phoenix metro garden soils.