Lead is a common environmental contaminant found in various parts of the environment such as air, water, homes, and soil. Despite limited lead testing in Yellowstone County, the risk of lead in the soil remains 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, the director of health promotion at RiverStone, explains that lead naturally occurs in soil in small amounts but is more prevalent in communities with older homes built before 1978. Children are particularly at risk of lead exposure, which can cause growth and developmental issues. The testing will help prevent childhood lead poisoning and assess the safety of the soil where food is grown or children play.
The event on Saturday will provide quick and efficient real-time soil testing using an X-ray machine brought by the state. The process only takes about 5 to 10 minutes, ensuring timely results to identify any potential lead contamination. Cynthia Jessee, a member of the Songbird Community Garden, emphasizes the importance of testing the soil to ensure safety for growing vegetables and other activities. The testing will commence at 9 a.m. and continue until noon at Gainan’s in the Heights, where participants can bring up to five bags of dry, debris-free soil in separate quart-sized plastic bags.