Lead in Vegetable Garden of Michelle Obama: White House

The White House vegetable garden that First Lady Michelle Obama planted has been found to contain elevated levels of lead.

A White House spokesperson stated that the garden's soil had 93 parts per million of lead, while health experts have cited safe concentrations as being 10-50 parts per million. Lead levels become truly dangerous at around 300 parts per million, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The revelation has been a point of embarrassment for the Whtie House, as the garden, the first in over fifty years, has been a significant symbol for Michelle Obama as well as the new Obama administration since being planted, in particular where highlighting differences from the Bush administration is concerned. Many from the First Family to White House guests including dignitaries, school children, women from a homeless shelter have eaten produce such as lettuce, herbs, peas, and cucumbers from the garden.

Katie McCormick, spokesperson for Michelle Obama, said that the garden has been submitted to "extensive soil testing" and been proven "completely safe".