Some years ago the Council carried out some soil tests in gardens in my area, due to it being an ex brickworks and later, a tip. At the time they informed us that the contaminants were within the prescribed levels.

Today I've received a letter saying that the guidelines have either changed or been withdrawn and not reissued and that 'sensible precautions' would include:
not sweeping pathways
don't plant any trees or shrubs and work only on the soil surface
talk to them before having any building works done
don't wear garden clothes or shoes around the house
don't eat any fruit or veg grown in the garden

Given that this house has been in the family for the last 20 odd years, and all these things have been done, do people think we should be worried, healthwise? Or do you think they're being alarmist? Should we need to inform prospective purchasers, builders who've worked on the house, gardeners etc?

Has anyone else received a similar letter in other areas? I've tried to phone the number given for queries to get further advice/info but there was only an answering machine.

Good heavens, that does sound rather worrying. Like you, I'd want to find out more. If I'd been told it was perfectly safe to do these things before, then I'd be asking questions.

How can it be a sensible suggestion to not sweep pathways anymore? What are you supposed to do?

Good heavens, that does sound rather worrying. Like you, I'd want to find out more. If I'd been told it was perfectly safe to do these things before, then I'd be asking questions.

How can it be a sensible suggestion to not sweep pathways anymore? What are you supposed to do?

Wash them. It sounds as if the Council are concerned about dust-borne pollutants.

If I was living there, I would want to know what the pollutants are, too. Here's a link (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1977EnGeo...2...33B) to the abstract of an article about pollution found around a German Brick works.

"don't plant any trees or shrubs and work only on the soil surface
talk to them before having any building works done"

Advice from Prince Charles perhaps

Wash them. It sounds as if the Council are concerned about dust-borne pollutants.

If I was living there, I would want to know what the pollutants are, too. Here's a link (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1977EnGeo...2...33B) to the abstract of an article about pollution found around a German Brick works.Thanks for that, I'll take a look. There's a list of the ones that have guidelines and a list of the percentages found locally included with the letter. I've had a closer look and it seems that we're well within safe limits, I suppose they're just trying to be careful.

Problem is that we've always had fruit trees and soft fruits and grown various veg ... it does make you wonder what you're eating and whether it's cumulative. :help: :)

Did they inform you at the time of the first tests what the contaminants were and what levels they were at?

Oops, just re-read the last post now. What sort of things were contaminating the site?