Document Type

Post-Print

Publication Date

11-2012

Subjects

Urban agriculture -- California -- Oakland, Environmental justice -- California -- Oakland, Land use -- California -- Oakland

Abstract

As urban agriculture grows in popularity throughout North America, vacant lots, underutilized parks, and other open spaces are becoming prime targets for food production. In many post-industrial landscapes and in neighborhoods with a high density of old housing stock, the risk of lead (Pb) contamination at such sites is raising concerns. This paper evaluates the extent to which soil Pb contamination may be an obstacle to the expansion of urban agriculture in Oakland, California. Using a combination of soil sampling at 112 sites, GIS, “hot spot” analysis, and reconstructed land use histories, the research reveals that soil Pb concentrations are generally lower than federal screening levels of 400 ppm, but significantly higher in West Oakland, the city's oldest area and home to a predominantly low-income and African American population. Lead levels are significantly lower in the affluent, predominantly white Oakland hills. Spatial analysis at city- and neighborhood-scales reveals clusters of Pb contamination related to land use history. Site-scale analyses at 12 sites reveals a high level of variability (in some cases related to land use history) that must be taken into consideration when planning for urban agriculture.

Description

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Applied Geography. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Applied Geography, Nov2012, Vol. 35 Issue 1/2, p460-473 and can be found online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.10.001

*At the time of publication Nathan McClintock was affiliated with University of California - Berkeley.

DOI

10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.10.001

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/12633

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