Roof water

Hey everyone, I have a few small garden beds that are right below the slope of one of our roofs. We recently had some rain and all the rain water just washed down right into the beds. I realize rain water is the best for the plants but should I be worried about any of the roof material (shingles) that might potentially put harmful materials into the soil?
We just moved to this new house.
In the beds, we're growing strawberries, bell peppers, parsley, and chillies.

Thanks

Nice looking garden beds, Barhos! Congratulations on the new house.
Regarding the question of toxins, I have wondered this myself having an asphalt roof with plenty of runoff. This study summary, Focus on Toxics in Roofing by The Department of Ecology in the state of Washington eased my concerns.
There is a contact name on the publication should you like to know more. The study author in 2014 recommended that the research continue. If you find out anything new, please share any more recent data with us.

Thank you Amy! Here's an ongoing study with results yet to be published. http://stormwatercenter.colostate.edu/research-portfolio/roof-runoff/

Amy Gardener wrote:Nice looking garden beds, Barhos! Congratulations on the new house.
Regarding the question of toxins, I have wondered this myself having an asphalt roof with plenty of runoff. This study summary, Focus on Toxics in Roofing by The Department of Ecology in the state of Washington eased my concerns.
There is a contact name on the publication should you like to know more. The study author in 2014 recommended that the research continue. If you find out anything new, please share any more recent data with us.

In 2017, we went on a field trip to a new study site in WA where they were studying the effects of roof runoff on salmon. They had roofing materials that they collected rain water from and fed directly into tanks holding salmon. The results were immediate and very unpleasant. Asphalt shingles were one of the worst. This is why I do not collect my roof water for my garden and instead have a pipe take it away from the house into an area we do not eat from. We are saving to get a better, safer roof.

I'll see if I can track down the presentation they gave the next year about their results.

Thanks for sharing Jenny. Time to go install a gutter.