Soil from Topanga / Calabasas, CA (XRF test results, March 2019).

Note: IF you are sending me soil samples to test, please follow the instructions on the link below very carefully and please send no more than one teaspoon to one tablespoon of soil per sample. When larger amounts of soil are sent, especially when surface soil is intermingled with soil under the surface, the readings are not particularly useful – because IF there is contamination on the surface it will be less likely to be detected due to the fact that a larger sample will likely contain a large quantity of non-surface soil which will dilute any surface level toxicity readings.

This concern is especially true in an area of high vegetation (like Topanga Canyon / Calabasas) where the base soil (the substrate in this case) is often going to be uncontaminated, but surface soil may be contaminated from (for example) Lead paint work done improperly [e.g. with insufficient containment measures] on a nearby Lead-painted building or other structure (home, garage, storage bldg., etc.), vehicles (boat,  car, tractor, bike, etc.) — or even heavy tools or machinery.

Thank you.

Please continue reading below the image. Thank you!

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This is a picture of the soil tested in the readings below.

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To learn more about the soil testing I do, click here.

For information to help you understand and interpret the results, click here.

Each set of test results below is representing a test for at least 60 seconds on the sample. 

Notes in pink are the location notes from the person who sent me the samples.

Sample One (“Right Side”):

• Lead (Pb):  Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Mercury (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Arsenic (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Zinc (Zn): 116 +/- 24 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 95+/- 36 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 188 +/- 68 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 76,600 +/- 1,800 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 174 +/- 42 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,326 +/- 128 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 1,066 +/- 214 ppm

Sample Two (“Orchard“):

• Lead (Pb):  Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Mercury (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Arsenic (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Zinc (Zn): 100 +/- 22 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 128 +/- 60 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 61,900 +/- 1,500 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 182 +/- 45 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,642 +/- 142 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 74 +/- 36 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 1,075 +/- 209 ppm

Sample Three (“Back of House“):

• Lead (Pb):  Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Mercury (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Arsenic (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Zinc (Zn): 277 +/- 37 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 66,300 +/- 1,700 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 161 +/- 44 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,140 +/- 133 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 1,187 +/- 237 ppm

Sample Four (“Left Side“):

• Lead (Pb):  Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Mercury (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Arsenic (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Barium (Ba): 175 +/- 50 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 193 +/- 31 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 65,000 +/- 1,700 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 181 +/- 44 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,546 +/- 140 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 938 +/- 219 ppm

Sample Five (“Front“):

• Lead (Pb):  Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Mercury (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Arsenic (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect / Negative (nd)
• Barium (Ba): 180 +/- 48 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 112 +/- 24 ppm
• Nickel (Ni): 153 +/- 65 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 53,700 +/- 1,400 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 181 +/- 40 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,049 +/- 120 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 840 +/- 215 ppm

As always please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama