|
CONTAMINATED SOILS – COMPARATIVE RISKS – There are no health risks at the bottom of your garden |
 |
 |
 |
|
The soil in your back yard is perfectly safe. Those who have been affected in any way by the reports of ‘contaminated soils’, can be confident there is no reliable evidence to support the claim that Auckland land, which has been used for horticulture, contains soils that pose a threat to human health. The Gaw Report, (which started it all) and subsequent reports and statements by the Auckland Regional Council, have created the impression that the gardens of Auckland, and the fresh fruit and vegetables being grown in them, are somehow contaminated and harmful to people’s health. These claims are not supported by the evidence. Claims that urban lawns and gardens are unsafe for children or pets to play in, and require that even adult gardeners should wear gloves and remove their shoes before coming inside, are false, and based on no scientific evidence. This conclusion is reinforced by a Crown Law opinion. After examining the Gaw Report and related documents, Crown Law concluded that “...the test of a real and substantial risk of contamination is not met. Thus, such information... is not a mandatory inclusion in a LIM.” The overriding recommendation of the Crown Law Report is that Councils cease including statements within their LIM reports that suggest garden soils may pose a threat to human health, solely on account of their having been used for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, none of the tested sites exceed international standards based on effects on human health. The readings were all below the ‘soil acceptance criteria’ recently developed by experts within Landcare Research, the Crown Research Institute. This report by the Centre documents these findings and then asks "how did this happen? and what steps need to be taken to stop it happening again. Read On. (more)
|
