Urban gardens may contain lead — here’s what the research says about the hidden health risk

Where does lead in soil come from? Decades of leaded gasoline, deteriorating paint and industrial activity. (Unsplash) Urban gardens may contain lead — here’s what the research says about the hidden health risk Published: May 19, 2026 10.05am EDT Share article Print article You skip the pesticides, you remove weeds by hand, you choose heirloom seeds. Organic methods give you comfort in knowing that your vegetables are grown without excessive chemicals. But what many careful gardeners don’t know is their gardens can carry a hazard that organic methods alone may not prevent: lead. Lead has …