The Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment will conduct soil safety inspections at 68 small urban garden sites from April through September. The survey targets spaces closely linked to citizens' daily lives, including kindergartens, daycare centers, welfare facilities, and schools.
The inspection will focus on whether the sites meet the "Soil Contamination Warning Standards Zone 1" levels suitable for crop cultivation under the Soil Environment Conservation Act. Eight heavy metal categories will be examined: zinc, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, hexavalent chromium, and mercury.
If results exceed the standards, the institute will immediately notify the relevant district or county to guide soil replacement and prohibit consumption of cultivated crops. Follow-up inspections will verify improvements to create an environment where citizens can farm with confidence.
