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In Yellowstone County, despite the presence of lead in all parts of the environment, including air, water, homes and soil, little lead testing has been conducted. This has left the risk of lead in the soil uncertain. To address this issue, RiverStone Health has partnered with Gainan’s Heights Flowers and Garden to offer free soil testing for lead.
Melissa Henderson, director of health promotion at RiverStone, explained that lead occurs naturally in soil in small amounts, with higher levels often found in communities with older homes built before 1978. RiverStone received a grant from the state health department to focus on lead in childhood to prevent poisoning because soil is a common exposure of children. Even small amounts of lead can cause growth and development problems in children while larger amounts can damage the brain.
Free soil testing on Saturday is a quick and easy way for people to make sure that the soil they grow food on or their children play on is safe. The state will provide an X-ray machine that can check the soil in real time, completing the process within 5 to 10 minutes. Henderson emphasized that the risks of lead poisoning can have long-lasting effects on individuals.
As Cynthia Jesse prepares to start growing vegetables in the Songbird Community Garden, she recognizes the importance of understanding the soil she will be working with. To ensure safety, she plans to test different parts of the soil at the event on Saturday. Jesse said that gardening is her therapy and she understands that