"Bioboffin" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
"fourmations" wrote in message
...
hi all

I live on a small main road and have wild blackberries
in the front garden (about 30 foot from road)

would these be bad/dangerous to eat
(after thorough washing obviously)

I would never pick blackberries from a roadside, not because of animal
contamination but because of deposits from exhausts. They're not water
soluble so can't be washed off. the distance you state should be
enough barrier to prevent most of that.

I would be interested to know just what deposits you would expect?
Unleaded fuels have removed the nastiest one, and catalytic converters
remove most of the gases. Diesels are chucking out particulates, but they
are mostly carbon. I'm not suggesting that you are wrong - I wouldn't eat
blackberries from the side of the road either, but I'd really like to know
which deposits you are thinking of.

'Mostly carbon' you say - what are the rest? Exhaust gases from any source
are rarely 100% 'clean' because engines are rarely 100% efficient. I'm
prepared to stick out my neck and say that the majority of exhaust gases
leave greasy deposits. That's why I wouldn't eat them.

Why wouldn't you eat brambles from the side of the road?

Mary