I'd smack whoever added sludge without having it tested.

Once the contaminated soil is removed & replaced, maybe we should all go up there & help them re-plant & teach them how to compost-

I bet there are *tons* of lobster shells & vegetable peelings & fruit rinds & stuff from those state dinners!

(2100 Pennsylvania Ave isn't it?)

I saw a bit from a Jay Leno show where he was asking people two questions:

Leno: Who lives at 1600 Pensylvania Avenue?
Random person: I have no idea.

Leno: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Random person: Spongebob Squarepants.

I like the one where he points to a flag, snapping in the breeze, & asks
"How many stars are there on that flag?"

& the person says,
"I don't know, it's moving too fast to count them."

That is a repeat of some bad research and sloppy reporting:

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/07/huffington-post-calls-it-food-fight.html

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/06/white-house-kitchen-garden-as-media.html

I have never, NEVER felt this much sympathy for...well, anyone in the public eye, politician or celebrity.

That's the most pitiful thing you've ever seen happen to a public figure? Seriously?
May I have the coordinates to your quadrant? I'd really like pilot my space ship right over so I can live on your planet.

I don't think this garden space is going to be plowed under or become a Super Fund toxic site. A lead level of 93 parts per million is better than the government standard - so Michelle and the rest of the White House people will continue to enjoy the fruits of their gardening labors. You must have missed that part of the article.

But if you want to send her a card:

Michelle Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC, 20500

Heck, give her a call (202) 456-1414

Oh, LOL! you guys! I was just kidding! Mostly.

I do have a lack of sympathy for most of the celebrity/political problems that surface. It seems most of them are consequences of immoral and illegal behavior and often I just shake my head and think "Well, what did they expect???"

As for "safe" levels of contamination, well, that's just an oxymoron for someone who is enthusiastic for organic gardening, let alone for someone shooting for 'certified organic' status in an official White House national garden.

Of course, I know it's not a tragedy, but it's a little crushing of a person's garden joy. I hate to see garden joy crushed.

93 ppm is indeed a pretty safe level. Our state uses 260 for 'residential' where kids live and gardening takes place. It's important to remember there are background levels of heavy metals in virtually all soil. 93 is a bit high, although not unusual for an urban area where a lot of lead paint and leaded gas was used for a long time. It would not surprise me if a level like that was entirely due to just the urban environment, regardless of sludge application.

I do wonder why the White House would ever use sludge though? It's kinda icky. They can certainly afford to spread some nice sifted compost...