Research & reports

Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.

5 results

• Is it healthy urban agriculture? Human exposure to potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from Andalusia, Spain

  2024

  Sabina Rossini Oliva, Rafael López Núñez · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · Spain (Andalusia)

  This study evaluated potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in vegetables and topsoils from urban gardens in Seville, Cordoba, Huelva, and a mining area (Riotinto), Spain, comparing them with market and peri-urban samples. Soils in the mining area and cities generally showed higher contamination with As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn compared to other locations. Despite this, all PTE concentrations in vegetables from the studied urban gardens, including those from As-contaminated soils, were below health-based guidance values and market levels (except lettuce), and human health risk assessments indicated safe consumption.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agricultureCommunity
  Read source →DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33500-w

• Assessment of heavy metal transfer factors from soil to edible crops in peri-urban agricultural lands

  2024

  Elliot Buckminster, Charlotte Breckenridge, Thomas Sedgwick · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · United Kingdom

  This research quantified soil-to-plant transfer factors for six heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr) in lettuce, spinach, and carrot across 20 peri-urban agricultural sites in Berkshire, UK, from 2021-2022. Cadmium exhibited the highest mean transfer factor (0.31), and at 4 of 20 sites, cadmium concentrations in lettuce exceeded the EU maximum limit of 0.20 mg/kg fresh weight. Soil pH was a strong predictor for Cd and Zn transfer factors, with TFs increasing below pH 6.0.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agriculture
  Read source →DOI: 10.33545/2618060x.2024.v7.i4c.4991

• Occurrence and human health implications of chemical contaminants in vegetables grown in peri-urban agriculture

  2019

  Anna Margenat, Víctor Matamoros, Sergi Dı́ez, Núria Cañameras, Jordi Comas, Josep M. Bayona · Environment International · Spain (Barcelona)

  A study assessed 16 trace elements and 33 organic microcontaminants in lettuce, tomato, cauliflower, and broad beans from peri-urban farms near Barcelona, Spain, and a rural site. Concentrations ranged from non-detectable to 17.4 mg/kg for trace elements and non-detectable to 256 μg/kg for organic microcontaminants, with tomatoes showing the highest levels. Risk assessment indicated a low human health risk from consuming these vegetables in the peri-urban area, comparable to the rural site.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agriculture
  Read source →DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.013

• Changes in the sizes of agricultural areas and their agricultural and environmental functions within the territories of Cracow’s Mogiła and Wyciąże neighbourhoods

  2018

  Piotr Krzyk, Bogusława Kwoczyńska · Problemy Drobnych Gospodarstw Rolnych / Problems of Small Agricultural Holdings · Poland (Cracow)

  This study quantitatively assessed the conversion of agricultural land to investment purposes in Cracow's Mogiła and Wyciąże neighborhoods from 2010-2013, based on local plans. It also addressed soil quality, heavy metal content, and pH. Analysis of spatial management plans for these areas indicated a systematic decline in the share of biologically active areas.

  Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agriculturePolicyClimate changeEconomicsHealth
  Read source →DOI: 10.15576/pdgr/2018.4.105

• A study on air quality and heavy metals content of urban food produced in a Mediterranean city (Barcelona)

  2018

  Mireia Ercilla‐Montserrat, Pere Muñoz, J.I. Montero, Xavier Gabarrell, Joan Rieradevall · Journal of Cleaner Production · Spain (Barcelona)

  This study measured heavy metal content in air and hydroponic lettuce leaves at four sites in Barcelona, including high-traffic areas, to assess potential contamination from atmospheric pollution. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in lettuce leaves were below EU-legislated limits in all cases, and air concentrations were less than 50% of legislative limits. The study concluded that Barcelona's air heavy metal content is low and not a source of contamination for urban crops, even near high-traffic areas.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agriculture
  Read source →DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.183