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Questions and Answers: 2023

Question: If there are edible & medicinal plants on the side of the road. But are contaminated from exhaust, oil & …

• Question

  If there are edible & medicinal plants on the side of the road. But are contaminated from exhaust, oil & fuel in the soil. Can planting 1 or more generations of it's seeds remove the contaminate? If so how many times? I'm interested in getting medicinal plants. Thank you,

  Answer

  Dear Neptune769, good morning. The question you have raised is a good one. The lead contamination in roadside plants is well-known and there is a gradient that exists--less lead with distance from road. I am guessing that a single generation of growing seeds away from this source of contamination (from when vehicles used leaded fuels) would do much (tremendously) to reduce any lead content of the overall plant and the parts you would consume for food or medicine. Best wishes.