Lake Oswego, West Linn and Oregon City residents can get household items tested for lead at no cost at a health fair in Canby on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Clackamas County Public Health and the Oregon Health Authority are partnering to bring the state's soilSHOP program to Bridging Cultures' "Saturdays in the Park" event at Wait City Park. The free testing runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to the county's event listing published Monday, Aug. 17.
The soilSHOP program, short for Soil Health Outreach Partnership, travels to community events across Oregon offering free lead screening. Lead can lurk in garden soil, traditional glazed pottery, imported spices and older toys or antiques, particularly those made in other countries. It's invisible and odorless, but exposure can seriously harm children's health, according to OHA program materials.
No registration is required.
Based on guidance from previous soilSHOP events, residents should bring dry samples in small, labeled zip-lock bags, with no more than a half-cup of soil per sample. Full preparation details for the Sept. 12 event are available at Oregon.gov/soilshopOregon.
The testing is part of a broader health fair hosted by Bridging Cultures, a Canby-based nonprofit founded in 2010 with a mission to build relationships that create an equitable community. The Sept. 12 edition of its recurring "Saturdays in the Park" series is designated a special health fair, with community acupuncture also available.
What to bring
- Garden or yard soil in a zip-lock bag (dry, up to a half-cup)
- Glazed pottery or ceramics
- Spices, especially imported varieties
- Toys or antiques, particularly older or foreign-made items
If you go
What: Free lead screening at Bridging Cultures' "Saturdays in the Park" Health Fair
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Wait City Park, Canby
Cost: Free
More info: Oregon.gov/soilshopOregon
