Asked July 23, 2016, 12:43 PM EDT
Hello,
my neighbour cut up roof from my garage, plywood plus asphalt shingles, with saw in middle of my garden. We picked up as much as we could but some of it got mixed into the soil.
Recently I have read somewhere that heavy metals and asbestos are used in shingles manufacturing process.
I did grow raspberries, cherry tomatoes, one big Guyanese "spinach" plant, one "crawling" spinach plant in respective distance from the messy area but some roots may have reached the messy, potentially contaminated area. Dust was probably blown into the wider area. I am seriously alarmed about it. Me and my wife have eaten produce but not much at all. We are not serious gardeners. Few caps of cherries, few caps of raspberries, few leaves of greens, actually very few only once since it didn't taste good.
We also had old asparagus plant which was exposed to some dirt from shingles. After couple of years we ate few asparagus spears and they did taste little bitter. We did wash them well and didn't use broth. I googled asparagus and I find out that it does taste little bitter some times, depending on weather and growing conditions, so I ate it. This messy event took place in 2008.
Can knowledgeable person help me out please.
I have read that heavy organic petroleum products do not get absorbed readily by plants. I hope that is the case since heavy metals can by harmful. Also I wouldn't want asbestos dust blowing around. Shingles were manufactured after 1960, probably before 1976, purchased in Ontario, Canada.
I thank you for reading my question and thank you kindly for expert response. If you need any more info please ask.
Thanks again
Peter Zap
None County Outside United States