Allotments No 18 - Contamination of Land No 2

A serious case of contamination of allotment land came my way this week. It is so serious that an allotment site in Newport (Gwent) is to close permanently. Remedial works could make the land useable but would cost upto £195,000. The report indicated that growing of fruit trees and vegetables might not be possible, even after remediation.

The causes of contamination of gardens and allotments are various. If there is any reason to suspect pollution it is essential to investigate by:

• a desk study; and,
• an on-site investigation.

Pointers to possible contamination include:

• the physical remains of industrial and other buildings and machinery;
• waste and oil spills from former industrial workings;
• contaminates from the burning of painted timber, tyres and other materials;
• residues from polluted flood waters;
• long-term air-borne contaminates; and,
• spills from off-site events, eg a fire or explosion, which result in pollution "pathways" to the garden or allotment site. 

It is possible that a plot-holder may contaminate the patches of ground by such practices as:

• the inadvertent overuse of fertilisers or chemical for pest / weed controls; 
• the regular bonfire burning of plastics, painted timber, tyres and other materials containing toxic substances; and,
• burying asbestos sheeting and other potentially harmful materials.