How can i test for pollutants in soil?

Question

How can i test for pollutants in soil?

Answer 1

First, give your local agricultural extension agent a call.  Depending on where you are, there may be a facility close by that does this kind of testing.  Or, you may have to have a sample sent away.

The cost for soil sampling varies from place to place and is based on what contaminants you are interested in testing for.  You want to make sure that you send in a few individual samples from around your place if it is rather large so you have a representative sampling of your entire land and not just from one spot.

Answer 2

Contact your local University Extension office.  They will be able to refer you to the help you need.

Answer 3

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living soil nematode that is commonly used as a model for toxicity tests. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of seven organic pollutants: four azaarenes (quinoline, acridine, phenazine, and 1,10-phenanthroline), short-chain chlorinated paraffins, and two organochlorinated pesticides (toxaphene and hexachlorobenzene). The exposure to all chemicals was carried out in three test media (soil, agar, and aquatic medium), and adult mortality was evaluated after 24 and 48 h. Toxaphene was the most toxic substance with LC50 (48 h) of 379 mg/kg in the soil and 0.2 mg/L in the aquatic medium. Quinoline was the most toxic chemical in agar test with LC50 (48 h) of 10 mg/L. HCB showed a very low toxicity in all tests, maybe due to its very low water solubility. Longer than 24-h test duration was found necessary for getting more correct data on toxicity. In comparison with other studies, C. elegans was less sensitive than other soil invertebrates. Different response might be attributed to different exposure routes and shorter test duration. Equilibrium partitioning theory was used to calculate Koc from results of soil and aquatic tests but this approach was found not working. Our results suggest that the tests with nematode C. elegans should be included to the battery of tests for risk assessment of POPs in soil.

ISO 16387:2004 describes a method for determining the effects of substances or contaminated soils on reproduction and on survival of the worm Enchytraeus albidus (Enchytraeidae). The animals are exposed to the substances by dermal and alimentary uptake using a defined artificial soil substrate to which specified amounts of that substance are added, or by using a soil substrate of unknown quality.

ISO 16387:2004 is applicable to test substances that are either insoluble or soluble in water, although the method of application differs. The method is not applicable to volatile test substances, i.e. substances for which H (Henry's constant) or the air/water partition coefficient is greater than 1, or for which the vapour pressure exceeds 0,013 3 Pa at 25 °C. For optimum applicability, the water solubility and the vapour pressure of the test substance should be known. Additionally, information on the persistence of the test substance in soil is desirable.

Basic information on the ecology and ecotoxicology of Enchytraeidae in the terrestrial environment can be found in the bibliographic references.

The stability of the test substance cannot be ensured over the test period. No provision is made in the test method for monitoring the persistence of the test substance.

Recommendations for adapting the method to comparing or monitoring soil quality are given in Annex B.

Answer 4

First you must have a particular pollutant are a very few pollutants in mind that you want to test for. Testing for pollutants can get very expensive. If you wanted to test soil for a whole host of pollutants, the cost will add up very quickly.

In the mid west, where I am, A&L Labs is probably has the most extensive soils lab http://www.al-labs.com/

A&L is an agricultural lab. They do test for pollutants, but there main focus is soil nutrients.

Environmental labs may be more specialized for testing for pollutants. A quick web search should point you in the direction of a local environmental lab.