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The Busan Public Health and Environment Reserch Institute to Conduct 2025 Soil Safety Survey of Urban Gardens in Busan

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The Busan Public Health and Environment Reserch Institute(hereinafter “the Institute”) announced that it will conduct a soil safety survey of small-scale urban gardens in the Busan area from April to December this year.

The Institute conducts annual surveys of urban garden soil to ensure citizens can safely engage in gardening activities.

The survey evaluates whether the soil complies with the "Soil Contamination Concern Standard, Region 1" criteria as defined under the Soil Environment Conservation Act.*

* Soil Contamination Concern Standard: A regulatory threshold for soil contamination that may adversely affect human health, property, animals, or plant growth.
Region 1 includes areas designated for fields, paddies, orchards, pastures, springs, university land, irrigation ditches, fish farms, parks, historic sites, cemeteries, and children’s playgrounds.

The survey will cover eight types of heavy metals in the soil. A total of 64 sites closely connected to citizens' daily lives—such as newly established gardens, kindergartens, and daycare centers—will be selected (four locations per district across 16 districts).

The eight heavy metals tested are:
▲Zinc ▲Nickel ▲Arsenic ▲Cadmium ▲Copper ▲Lead ▲Hexavalent Chromium ▲Mercury.

In terms of garden types:

• ●Kindergartens and daycare centers account for 52%

• ●Welfare facilities account for 16%

• ●Schools account for 8%.

Additionally, the Institute will continue monitoring six urban garden sites that exceeded safety standards last year, and will conduct heavy metal testing on crops grown in those areas.

According to the 2024 survey, zinc exceeded the “Region 1” threshold, while all other elements were within acceptable limits.

Follow-up crop testing will focus on three heavy metals: ▲Cadmium ▲Lead ▲Zinc.

If survey results show exceedance of the standard, the Institute will promptly notify the relevant district office (gu/gun) to recommend soil replacement and ban consumption of crops grown in the contaminated areas.

Since most small-scale urban gardens are located at facilities like kindergartens, daycare centers, and senior centers, the Institute aims to quickly communicate results to prevent the consumption of potentially contaminated produce.

Lee Yong-joo, Director of the Busan Institute of Health and Environment, stated:
“As public interest in eco-friendly agricultural products and leisure gardening continues to grow, more citizens are cultivating urban gardens. We are committed to ensuring the safety of garden soil to help foster an environment where citizens can confidently grow and consume safe, eco-friendly produce.”

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Appendix: 2025 Urban Garden Soil Safety Survey Plan

• ●Survey Period: April – December 2025

• ●Survey Targets:

• ○Soil: 64 locations (small urban gardens across 16 districts)

• ○Crops: 6 locations (gardens where soil exceeded standards in 2024)

• ●Survey Items:

• ○Soil: 8 heavy metals – Zinc, Nickel, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury

• ○Crops: 3 heavy metals – Zinc, Cadmium, Lead

• ●Timeline:

• ○Jan–Mar: Establish survey plan and select locations

• ○Apr–Oct: Collect and analyze samples, notify results to local districts

• ○Nov–Dec: Prepare and submit final report