White House Garden Tests Positive For Lead

Lead Levels Found at Garden Do Not Appear to Be at Dangerous Levels; Still Safe to Grow Produce

(AP)  The White House says its high-profile garden on the South Lawn has tested positive for lead although it is not at dangerous levels.

White House spokeswoman Katie McCormick-Lelyveld said Thursday that tests on the soil in the White House garden detected lead levels of 93 parts per million. Soil is considered unsafe for growing vegetables when it reaches more than 500 parts per million.

First lady Michelle Obama planted the garden on the South Lawn this spring with local schoolchildren. Produce from it is used in the White House kitchens and donated to area groups.

McCormick-Lelyveld says the White House will continue to grow vegetables in its garden, which food activists sought and praised.

[commuter_dog]

To all the chemical poison conspiracy hysterical types. This is a non-story. As stated elsewhere the level found is typical. You have all been eating food with lead traces from Day 1. Get facts, then comment.

[abbe91]

So WMD's were found, ultimately ...

[erasmus111]

And I'm curious to know why all of a sudden they decided to have the soil tested. Why wasn't it tested BEFORE they planted the vegetables in it?

[erasmus111]

Not at a dangerous level? Any level is dangerous. If you are eating those vegetables everyday, how could it not be dangerous? Especially for children.

[commuter_dog]

Erasmus111: Please get facts straight. Even quick research about typical lead levels in soil would show that 93 parts per million Pb is a nominal range. The amount picked up by fruits and vegetables is less. Humans have been ingesting it since we came out of the trees. You can't escape it. It's a fact of nature and our enviroment. 500 parts per million is an action level for concern.
Basically this story should headline "Typical lead levels found in White House garden".

[ObamaFoodorama]

since you're a news organization, how about providing your readers with real facts about this issue? This was posted on Huffington Post today, and clarifies that soil experts do not believe the level of lead in the White House Kitchen Garden is at all a concern:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eddie-gehman-kohan/the-only-thing-toxic-abou_b_224854.html

[erasmus111]

"The White House says its high-profile garden on the South Lawn has tested positive for lead although it is not at dangerous levels."


Isn't that what this says?

But I don't care what it says. Any level of lead is a dangerous level.

[iam4honesty]

Maybe that would explain Dubya's stupidity. Did he grow his pot in the back yard?

[starleo146]

I thought that at first honesty ,but realized he was already stupid when he got to the White House

[hakori]

IThoughtItWasFunny2, the only thing funny here is your stupidity. Is that why you liked Bush so much? Birds of a feather...