Ghost Factories: Smelting and Lead Contamination

[Dina Rodrigues]

As most of you already know, the soil in Newark is heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals, but where did these toxins come from? As this USA today report shows, the chemicals came mostly from the Lead Factories, or Smelting Facilities, in the downtown area of Newark. Seeing as our garden is located in Newark, I believe those of us working in the garden need to know this information. Not only does it prove that growing edible plants in ground will result in the consumption of poisons, but that any and all precautions should be taken while handling the soil. Furthermore, it should inspire us to want to make the soil pure again.

This report was released in April of this year.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/smelting-lead-contamination/index# 

 

~Dina Rodrigues