Is Urban Gardening Hazardous to Your Health?

In this edition of the Soil Health Nexus Digital Café features Dr. Anna Paltseva who explores the hidden risks of soil contamination in urban environments, focusing on heavy metal pollution, its sources, and its impact on human health and urban agriculture. She discusses practical remediation strategies, innovative soil testing methods, and community-driven approaches to improving urban soil quality and sustainability. This webinar was originally broadcasted March 19, 2025.

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Dr. Anna Paltseva is an international urban soil scientist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture & Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Her expertise lies in urban soil contamination, remediation, and the impact of soil on public health and urban agriculture.

With a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from The Graduate Center, CUNY, Dr. Paltseva has authored over 30 publications and presented her research at national and international conferences in Italy, Brazil, China, Germany, Greece, and more.

Dr. Paltseva is the author of Urban Soil Guide: A Field and Laboratory Manual, a comprehensive resource for understanding and testing urban soils. She is passionate about translating complex soil science into accessible knowledge for diverse audiences, leading community-driven initiatives and workshops to improve urban soil health.