Effect of paint chippings on soil

[Rigel]

Hello!
I'm new

Today I came home to find scaffolding outside my house, and all the balcony boxes removed from my railings and the whole place covered in paint chippings. Obviously some work is being done higher up.

Anyway, the pots and boxes are all white with the paint chippings and I honestly don't think I can get it all out. Is it likely to have much effect?

[rustylady]

No, should be fine. Just clean off what you can.

[Rigel]

Oh super! Phew- was not looking forward to picking it all out.
That just leaves the rest of the balcony to clear!

[Veggielot]

Shouldnt be the end of the world. Clear off what you can without disturbing the soil to much and you should be fine. Just check none has got caught in you veg when you eat it.

[alldigging]

I'd be asking if they were planning on clearing up the paint chippings. They might have planned to come along after they'd finished and clean it all up..

[Rigel]

Thanks all, unfortunately cleaning up is not part of the service here. Which is a shame as they've made a right mess- found a work knife in my strawberries this afternoon, and sealant all over my blackberries!

[Nightshade]

One of my relatives found a lot of paint chippings dumped in one corner of his garden by some painters who did some work on his house.

Some of the people who replied said not to worry about the effect on the soil. Is this just an opinion or a case of a guy in the pub said so or is there a hard reference I can check out?

[Bill HH]

The serious but unlikely thing would be if it is the old led paint.

[Veggielot]

Some of the people who replied said not to worry about the effect on the soil. Is this just an opinion or a case of a guy in the pub said so or is there a hard reference I can check out?

Ideally you wouldn't want paint in your soil however there can be worse things to find and as it was on the surface of the soil removing most should have been possible. A little care in clearing the soil and preparing the veg would appear better than throwing it all away.