One in six tested Amsterdam gardens contain unhealthy levels of lead

Of the 8,000 gardens in Amsterdam where the municipality did free lead checks, one in six was found to contain unhealthy levels of the heavy metal, Parool reported.

Exposure to lead can harm brain development, so lead-contaminated soil is particularly dangerous to small children up to around 6 years old. The municipality, therefore, offered free lead checks in neighborhoods that have a risk of lead contamination.

Over the past four years, the city tested some 8,000 gardens for lead contamination. 39 percent were considered clean. 44 had “moderate” lead contamination. And 17 percent had unhealthy levels of lead.

Femke Visser, a soil advisor for the municipality, stressed that this only concerns gardens where a lead check was performed. It is not a cross-section of the city. Amsterdam only offered free checks to residents of neighborhoods where contamination is expected - neighborhoods dating back to before the 20th century and the old towns like Osdorp and Weesp - and not all residents agreed.

Residents with unhealthy amounts of lead in their gardens are offered a consultation, during which they figure out how to address the situation, Visser said. Removing the soil can be very expensive, especially from enclosed residential blocks. The municipality therefore offers a subsidy that covers 50 to80 percent of the costs.

Visser recommends locals address the contamination at a moment that makes sense, such as during foundation repairs or when the garden is being raised or renovated. In the meantime, risks can be mitigated by covering the contaminated soil with materials like wood chips or artificial turf. And definitely grow your vegetables in containers with potting soil.

The city’s main goal with the home inspections was to make residents aware of the dangers of lead, particularly for young children. “That’s the biggest benefit and actually the reason for offering this inspection,” Visser said. “If people know what’s going on in their garden, they can take that into account.”