ABSTRACT
Soil contamination with potentially toxic trace elements and anthropogenic organic pollutants is a widespread problem in urban areas worldwide. Urban agriculture increases food security and provides greenspace, jobs, and fresh produce to urban communities; however, without knowledge of urban soil contamination, there can be some potential risks. Soil contamination with Pb is a widespread problem and is one of the most common soil issues in urban areas that are associated with risks to human health. Almost half of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund sites have Pb contamination as one of the causes for concern. Cadmium is a widespread urban soil pollutant. In urban areas, much of the Cd contamination is from a variety of industrial activities: plastic manufacturing and incineration, battery manufacture and disposal, dye/pigment production, and processing of zinc and copper metal ores. Bioavailability of soil Pb to humans is unusually low and generally tied to Pb speciation.
