Before blackberry season gets under way...

[pseudomonas]

When I was a kid back in the 80s, I was told not to pick and eat fruit growing next to busy roads. In these days of near-universal unleaded petrol, does this advice still hold true at all?

Comments

[gerald_duck]

It's probably worth worrying about particulates from diesel fumes, benzene, sulphur, general grime, etc. as well.

Back in the day, brake pads were made with asbestos, so brake dust was probably as least as large a concern as leaded petrol…

On the other hand, are there not enough blackberries available in hedgerows by less major roads, and wouldn't blackberry picking be more pleasant there?