Urban Farm DB
Research catalogue
Database research record2013·United States (Omaha NE)

The Influence of Lead Hyperaccumulators on the Uptake of Lead by Vegetables

Laura Knapp, Jodi L. Sangster, Shannon L. Bartelt‐Hunt

International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship

Urban Farm DB summary

This study investigated the influence of lead hyperaccumulating plants on lead uptake by vegetables in an urban community garden in Omaha, NE, a region with significant lead contamination. Tomatoes, carrots, and amaranth were grown alongside sunflowers and mustard greens (hyperaccumulators) in lead-contaminated soil. Data showed higher lead concentrations in the hyperaccumulators and suggested that their presence might have impacted the amount of lead available to surrounding vegetation. Previous work at the garden detected lead in produce, indicating a potential exposure pathway for humans.