KCD is proud to have partnered with the Washington State Department of Ecology this summer to inform folks across King County about soil contaminants!
Together we hosted four SoilSHOP events, one in Burien, Federal Way, Des Moines, and Vashon Island. During the events, nearby residents brought soil samples to us to test for lead and arsenic. We tested 350 soil samples in total! These communities are some of the most affected in King County by the Tacoma Smelter Plume. You can see your potential risk of soil contaminants from the plume at Dirt Alert.
In additional to engaging with King CVounty residents about how to grow food safely, we got to visit a community garden in Burien, greet farmers market shoppers in Federal Way, bounce at a community resource fair in Des Moines, and watch parades of strawberries on Vashon Island (see photos). These events strengthen our community partnerships and raise awareness to keep communities safe. Special thanks to The Shark Garden, the Federal Way Farmers Market, Midway Covenant Church, and the Vashon Strawberry Festival for being our gracious hosts, as well as our partners at the Department of Health and others for joining us at these events.
Why test the soil for contaminants? Especially when we’re interacting with the soil, be it gardening, playing, or digging, we can put ourselves at risk if there are soil contaminants that we’re not aware of. Children are especially at risk.
But there are actions you can take to protect yourself if you know or suspect that your soil is contaminated! They include:
- Limit the ingestion pathway (eating dirt) by wearing gloves when working in the soil and washing your hands afterwards.
- Wash garden fruits and veggies before eating and peel root vegetables. Plants themselves generally take up little contaminants, but they can have dirt particles stuck to them.
- Garden in raised beds and use compost to dilute the soil.
- Take shoes off at the door and avoid tracking dirt inside.
- Cover bare soil with mulch, organic matter, or living plants.
Learn more about these actions and more here.
Are you curious about what’s in your soil? KCD offers five free soil nutrient tests to King County residents in our service area, and lead and arsenic tests are available for an additional charge. Stay up to date on KCD happenings to learn about our next event near you!
