Do you have a vegetable garden in your yard? There is a chance that the soil you are growing in could contain lead.
Homes near busy roadways or near fences with chipped or peeling paint sometimes have high amounts of lead in the soil. Lead can be released into the air by cars using leaded gasoline and then settle into soil or leaded paint chips can settle into soil after they fall because lead doesn't wash away.
Lead poisoning is a concern for both children and adults.
It can cause:
• Permanent problems with health, learning, and behavior in young children
• High blood pressure, kidney damage, and fertility problems in adults
You can be exposed to lead any time you breathe lead dust, fumes, or swallow anything that contains lead.
About 75% of homes built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. The older the home the more likely it is to contain lead-based paint. You should assume that any home built before 1978 contains some lead.
The Burlington Lead Program will be joining the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in conjunction with the UVM Extension, to test for lead in soil at the Old North Farmer's Market on Tuesday, September 24 from 3:00 to 6:00pm. Bring 2 cups of soil from your yard or garden in a clear plastic bag and we will test it right on site and give you the results within minutes!
More information on additional testing events: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/vermont/soil-screening-2024
More information about the Burlington Lead Program: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/blp
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