Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in Urban Gardens, Playgrounds and Schoolyards

Dr. Dodd was awarded an Internal Grant for Research for a research project to examine the environmental and human health impacts of heavy metals in urban spaces in Canada.

Natural sources, atmospheric deposition, forest fires, the use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and paints along with industrial activities and automobile exhaust can introduce metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc into urban soils including parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, backyard and community gardens. In light of the potential toxicity of these heavy metals this research will assess the distribution and the potential health risk associated with metals in residential and community gardens, playgrounds and schoolyards in Canada. The potential environmental and human health impacts associated with metal uptake into produce will be also be examined.