Perspectives on Heavy Metal Soil Testing Among Community Gardeners in the United States: A Mixed Methods Approach

Candis M. Hunter, Dana H. Z. Williamson, Matthew O. Gribble, Halle Bradshaw, Melanie Pearson, Eri Saikawa, P. Barry Ryan and Michelle Kegler
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Candis M. Hunter: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Dana H. Z. Williamson: Department of Behavioral Health Sciences and Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Matthew O. Gribble: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Halle Bradshaw: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Melanie Pearson: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Eri Saikawa: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
P. Barry Ryan: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Michelle Kegler: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Community gardens offer numerous benefits, but there are also potential risks from exposure to chemical contaminants in the soil. Through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior, this mixed methods study examined community gardeners’ beliefs and intentions to conduct heavy metal soil testing. The qualitative component involved five focus groups of community garden leaders in Atlanta, Georgia. Qualitative analysis of the focus group data revealed that heavy metal soil contamination was not frequently identified as a common gardening hazard and several barriers limited soil testing in community gardens. The focus group results informed the development of a questionnaire that was administered to 500 community gardeners across the United States. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the soil testing intention was associated with attitude (aOR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.53), subjective norms (aOR = 3.39 95% CI: 2.07, 5.57), and perceived behavioral control (aOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.99). Study findings have implications for interventions involving community garden risk mitigation, particularly gardens that engage children and vulnerable populations.

Keywords: soil contaminants; urban agriculture; environmental psychology; risk perception; Theory of Planned Behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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