Urban farming has been growing in popularity in Detroit and other postindustrial cities, but a lingering concern is over the soil where city farms are sprouting. With virtually all urban farms planted on land that once held houses, shops, or factories, the safety of fruits and vegetables raised in Detroit dirt has remained a question. Urban farmers have addressed this concern by testing their soil for lead, arsenic and other metals and pollutants before they plant. And so far, this testing has shown that most sites in Detroit are safe for growing food. Now, a new study by Wayne State University aims to take this testing a step further and develop a more detailed method for assessing the safety of local urban farm sites. What's different, said Lawrence Lemke, associate professor of geology at WSU and a coprincipal investigator in the study team, is that the new effort is sampling soil from many more spots within each farm. "Our work will open up new research directions tailored to an urban institution, yet still address important agricultural issues," said Yifan Zhang, assistant professor of nutrition and food science in Wayne State's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the other coprincipal investigator in the study. "In addition, our work will provide us with an opportunity to develop outreach materials based on our research findings to provide communities with guidance on how to grow food safely and in a sustainable manner."

http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2015/06/27/detroit-farming-agriculture-wsu-soil-earthworks/29327963/
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600-201506280505KRTRIB__BUSNEWS_15006_27480-1
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/70dc745cf1384268976cdb435ef1b884/MI--Urban-Gardens-Soil-Tests