Collective conceptualization and management of risk for arsenic pollution in urban community gardens

Abstract

At the global scale, an increase in urban gardening activities is being observed and the question of produce quality is therefore regularly investigated in relation to pollutant transfer in the environment. The scientific question investigated in the present study was in what way is the presence of arsenic pollution detected in community gardens a public problem and how would each party take ownership of this issue? An interdisciplinary and participative research study BJASSUR^based on both agronomy and risk assessments was conducted in a French collective garden impacted by arsenic pollution in the well water used for irrigation. Gardener surveys and public meetings examined the gardeners' representations of risk and research solutions for sustainable site management. The theoretical framework of Gilbert which applies a social construction of risk was used. Without an official arsenic limit concentration for vegetables produced in the gardens, a collective risk construction and management process took place. Arsenic total and human bioaccessible concentrations were measured in both vegetables and soil and compared to reference data from a national database to assess the level of health risk. Vegetable quantities produced were obtained in the field from Rev Agric Food Environ Stud

Revisión sistemática de los sistemas alimentarios en la transición a ciudades sostenibles

“…Sin un límite oficial de concentración de arsénico para las hortalizas producidas en las huertas; se llevó a cabo un proceso colectivo de construcción y gestión del riesgo; encontrando que las actividades de jardinería podrían continuar con seguridad. Sin embargo, las autoridades sanitarias regionales prohibieron el uso de agua contaminada con arsénico y los pozos fueron cerrados permanentemente (Dumat et al, 2018). Las cargas de nitrógeno (N) relacionadas con la ciudad representan una amenaza para el medio ambiente y alteran su ciclo natural.…”

The Collective Fabric of Sustainable Management of Mining Sites to Reconcile Sensitive Land Uses and Human Health

“…Today, according to several socio-technical studies, the issue of management of mining sites leads to increased consideration of the question of the relationship between social contexts and land uses. However, for these complex terrestrial ecosystems, the transfer of pollutants and therefore ultimately the exposure scenarios of populations are influenced by multiple factors [4][5][6], partly explaining the controversies surrounding the environmental pollution frequently observed in long-standing anthropized territories. This is why, faced with the risk of the dissemination of persistent (eco) toxic substances around mining sites and the uncertainties that generate questions and fears on the part of citizens; when they deem insufficient the responses provided by the legitimate bodies of debate, the local associations, mobilize "media strategies".…”