L’s soil from South Carolina

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Published: July 11, 2022 – Monday

All tests done multiple times to confirm the results. Test result sets reported below are each for testing done for a minimum of 60-seconds per test.


  1. Sample 1 – front garden near house – right of front door
    • Lead (Pb): 24 +/- 8 – safe by all standards
    • Copper (Cu): 63 +/- 21 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 87 +/- 15 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 453 +/- 134 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 3,817 +/- 810 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 221 +/- 16 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 44,300 +/- 900 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 35 +/- 8 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  2. Sample 2 – soil in faux terra cotta pot
    • Zinc (Zn): 60 +/- 8 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 2,551 +/- 67 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 6 +/- 4 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  3. Sample 3 – soil in ground in front garden to Left of front door
    • Lead (Pb): 28 +/- 8 – safe by all standards
    • Cadmium (Cd): 15 +/- 4 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 49 +/- 20 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 74 +/- 14 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 312 +/- 127 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 3,890 +/- 816 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 4 +/- 2 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 253 +/- 15 ppm
    • Indium (In): 14 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 34,000 +/- 700 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 27 +/- 7 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  4. Sample 4 – strawberry patch front garden
    • Lead (Pb): 32 +/- 8 – safe by all standards
    • Cadmium (Cd): 13 +/- 4 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 54 +/- 20 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 101 +/- 16 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 253 +/- 126 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 3,443 +/- 798 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 4 +/- 2 ppm
    • Zirconium (Zr): 247 +/- 10 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 283 +/- 16 ppm
    • Indium (In): 18 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 34,200 +/- 700 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 28 +/- 8 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  5. Sample 5 – soil under oldest compost bin 1 inch from metal frame in contact with soil
    • Lead (Pb): 18 +/- 6 – safe by all standards
    • Copper (Cu): 51 +/- 16 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 163 +/- 15 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 181 +/- 102 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 4,761 +/- 701 ppm
    • Zirconium (Zr): 449 +/- 11 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 222 +/- 12 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 36,700 +/- 600 ppm
    • Platinum (Pt): 51 +/- 21 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 28 +/- 6 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  6. Sample 6 – soil 1 inch from newest compost bin metal frame in contact with ground
    • Lead (Pb): 21 +/- 7 – safe by all standards
    • Cadmium (Cd): 11 +/- 4 ppm
    • Tin (Sn): 12 +/- 7 ppm
    • Barium (Ba): 152 +/- 28 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 81 +/- 22 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 165 +/- 19 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 1,045 +/- 150 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 4,545 +/- 845 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
    • Zirconium (Zr): 222 +/- 9 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 254 +/- 16 ppm
    • Indium (In): 15 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 49,700 +/- 900 ppm
    • Platinum (Pt): 49 +/- 26 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 14 +/- 7 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  7. Sample 7 – compost from inside oldest compost bin
    • Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 435 +/- 34 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  8. Sample 8 – compost from inside newest compost bin
    • Barium (Ba): 355 +/- 167 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 14 +/- 7 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 6 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 1,589 +/- 56 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  9. Sample 9 – 1 inch from blueberry bush
    • Lead (Pb): 20 +/- 7 – safe by all standards
    • Copper (Cu): 31 +/- 19 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 54 +/- 13 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 3,387 +/- 852 ppm
    • Zirconium (Zr): 252 +/- 9 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 217 +/- 15 ppm
    • Indium (In): 9 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 29,400 +/- 600 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 18 +/- 7 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  10. Sample 10 – soil inside old tan plastic pot (with mint)
    • Cadmium (Cd): 16 +/- 4 ppm
    • Antimony (Sb): 17 +/- 9 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 42 +/- 19 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 108 +/- 15 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 23 +/- 3 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 410 +/- 16 ppm
    • Indium (In): 13 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 15,400 +/- 400 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  11. Sample 11 – soil in MacCourt 20-gallon pond liner planter
    • Copper (Cu): 27 +/- 9 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 40 +/- 7 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 6 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 1,135 +/- 46 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  12. Sample 12 – soil under 19 year old unfinished creosote pressure treated wood deck stairs
    • Lead (Pb): 11 +/- 7 – safe by all standards
    • Barium (Ba): 51 +/- 28 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 281 +/- 33 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 186 +/- 21 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 840 +/- 150 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 1,934 +/- 778 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 14 +/- 3 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 51,000 +/- 1,000 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 11 +/- 7 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  13. Sample 13 – soil next to creosote post on north side of patio
    • Lead (Pb): 32 +/- 8 – safe by all standards
    • Cadmium (Cd): 7 +/- 4 ppm
    • Barium (Ba): 57 +/- 27 ppm
    • Copper (Cu): 109 +/- 24 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 81 +/- 15 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 369 +/- 132 ppm
    • Titanium (Ti): 3,146 +/- 831 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 3 +/- 2 ppm
    • Zirconium (Zr): 294 +/- 11 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 210 +/- 15 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 41,100 +/- 800 ppm
    • Platinum (Pt): 41 +/- 25 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 16 +/- 7 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  14. Sample 14 – soil in Home Depot orange 5-gallon bucket
    • Copper (Cu): 30 +/- 11 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 42 +/- 7 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 10 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 1,335 +/- 53 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 7 +/- 4 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  15. Sample 15 – soil in Lowe’s 5-gallon blue bucket
    • Zinc (Zn): 24 +/- 6 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 3 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 1,127 +/- 45 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  16. Sample 16 – Miracle Grow Organic Choice Moisture Control Potting Mix with Compost
    • Copper (Cu): 31 +/- 9 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 24 +/- 6 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 815 +/- 40 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  17. Sample 17 – Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil – New Bag
    • Zinc (Zn): 35 +/- 7 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 1,703 +/- 55 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  18. Sample 18 – Azomite Rock Dust Soil Amendment
    • Lead (Pb): 35 +/- 8 ppm – safe by all standards
    • Cadmium (Cd): 8 +/- 4 ppm
    • Barium (Ba): 364 +/- 26 ppm
    • Antimony (Sb): 13 +/- 9 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 34 +/- 11 ppm
    • Manganese (Mn): 323 +/- 134 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 206 +/- 14 ppm
    • Indium (In): 9 +/- 5 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 11,600 +/- 300 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi) 73 +/- 9 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  19. Sample 19 – soil in ceramic pot
    • Lead (Pb): 6 +/- 3 ppm – safe by all standards
    • Copper (Cu): 31 +/- 12 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 53 +/- 9 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 8 +/- 2 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 2,681 +/- 75 ppm
    • Bismuth (Bi): 7 +/- 4 ppm
    • No other metals detected.
  20. Sample 20 – Dr. Earth 4-6-3 Tomato Vegetable Herb Fertilizer
    • Cadmium (Cd): 12 +/- 4 ppm
    • Antimony (Sb): 22 +/- 9 ppm
    • Zinc (Zn): 90 +/- 14 ppm
    • Bromine (Br): 38 +/- 3 ppm
    • Niobium (Nb): 439 +/- 17 ppm
    • Indium (In): 18 +/- 6 ppm
    • Iron (Fe): 3,101 +/- 167 ppm
    • No other metals detected.

For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. Tamara’s sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in August of 2005. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals), including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic. All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items (and separate components) are each tested multiple times, to confirm the test results for each component tested and reported on. Please click through to this link to learn more about the testing methodology used for the test results discussed and reported on this website.

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