Air and Water Pollution
Water and air pollution can negatively impact farming operations in urban spaces. It is important to know the levels of pollution present in your area to evaluate the health and safety of your products. This fact sheet addresses when these considerations warrant action and how to ensure the safety of your urban farm.
Air Pollution
Because airborne heavy metals and particulates are not likely to be absorbed by plants through their leaves, urban air contamination is not considered a major concern for urban-grown food. The exception is for farm and garden sites close to freeways, as freeway driving can produce toxic tire dust.
In these instances, farmers should consider using a closed growing method, such as greenhouse production, or other barriers.
In all instances, regardless of proximity to freeways, all crops should be washed thoroughly before sale or consumption to remove any contaminants settled on plant leaves.
It should be noted that airborne particles will settle on soils and contribute to soil contamination, and urban farmers should follow the precautionary measures and safe gardening practices outlined in Factsheet #7, Dealing with Contaminated Soils.
For more information about air pollution, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s website on air and radiation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website section on Chemical and Pollution Control.
Water Pollution
Plants can absorb contaminants and toxins from their water sources, and using contaminated potable water for washing crops can also make produce unsafe to eat. To determine your water safety, follow these steps (from the Essential Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal, Penguin Books, 2011):
- Learn about your water table, and particularly how high it is, by contacting your local water district office. If it is high enough to be reached by plant roots, plants could absorb toxins.
- Evaluate your land-use history, and particularly any previous industrial or factory activities in your area that might have polluted groundwater sources.
- If a city or regional company supplies water, contact the company for data on heavy metals and other types of water contamination.
- Get your water source tested.
Water Testing Services
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s “Water Quality Information for Consumers” website provides many resources about water testing and contamination and home treatment at https://www.css.cornell.edu/cwmi/waterquality/
The New York Department of Health also provides a listing of certified potable and non-potable water testing laboratories in New York State, available for download.
The University of Missouri Extension provides a guide to interpreting water analysis report results. Copyright 1993 to 2011 University of Missouri. Published by MU Extension, all rights reserved).
Funding For information on grants and financial opportunities for your farming operation, visit the ‘Grant and financial Opportunities’ fact sheet.
