Soil Samples from Rockville, Maryland – 2022

 

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Published: November 11, 2022

Test results for soil samples sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Rockville, Maryland. Samples are tested multiple times to confirm the results. Samples are tested using XRF technology (which – when testing soil – typically produces test results within the same range as sending samples to a lab for digestive testing.) Results reported below are for one full set of test results with at least a 60-second reading for each soil sample tested. To understand the implications of this testing, please read this article which discusses the relevant regulatory limits / guidelines for Lead in soil. 

• Metals found that are noted in RED are considered toxic metals. If they are in BOLD the metal found is at a level that is considered unsafe by most standards.
• Metals found that are noted in BLUE are not considered toxic in most applications
• Metals noted in gray were not found

In this particular set of readings the higher Titanium levels found in the soil indicate that the paint on the exterior of the home is likely primarily Titanium-based paint (vs. Lead-based paint). A lot of post-1950 paint has a Titanium base as formulations shifted to Titanium as companies phased out Lead. As with Lead, any metals that make up the contents of the paint contaminate the soil when the home is sanded / prepped for periodic repainting.

If you are interested in having your soil tested by Lead Safe Mama, LLC please note we will not be testing soil again until Mid-December (2022) and typically have a 6 to 8 week turn around. Please contact us in advance of sending in a soil sample to find out what our current turn around time for testing may be. (Here’s the link with details about sending your soil in for testing.) To see more examples of soil samples we have tested and reported here on the website, click here.

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Sample #1) Backyard Corner

• Lead (Pb): 70 +/- 14 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 88 +/- 31 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 221 +/- 29 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 387 +/- 185 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 1,813 +/- 1,103 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): 278 +/- 22 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 35,400 +/- 1,000 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #2) Coop Back

• Lead (Pb): 59 +/- 13 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 9 +/- 6 ppm
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 99 +/- 31 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 297 +/- 33 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 457 +/- 185 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 2,004 +/- 1,062 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 210 +/- 12 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): 306 +/- 22 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 32,100 +/- 900 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 19 +/- 10 ppm
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #3) Berries By The House (Raspberries)

• Lead (Pb): 47 +/- 12 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 16 +/- 6 ppm
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 74 +/- 29 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 157 +/- 25 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 386 +/- 178 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,248 +/- 1,050 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): non-detect
• Niobium (Nb): 293 +/- 22 ppm
• Indium (In): 19 +/- 8 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 39,400 +/- 1,100 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #4) Berries By The Fence (Blackberries)

• Lead (Pb): 114 +/- 17 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 10 +/- 6 ppm
• Tin (Sn): 17 +/- 10 ppm
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 89 +/- 31 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 255 +/- 32 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 366 +/- 183 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): non-detect
• Zirconium (Zr): non-detect
• Niobium (Nb): 317 +/- 23 ppm
• Indium (In): 15 +/- 8 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 36,800 +/- 1,000 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 16 +/- 10 ppm
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #5) Coop #1 – Front

• Lead (Pb): 80 +/- 13 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 15 +/- 6 ppm
• Tin (Sn): 17 +/- 9 ppm
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): 25 +/- 13 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 110 +/- 29 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 381 +/- 34 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): non-detect
• Titanium (Ti): 2,929 +/- 1,018 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): non-detect
• Niobium (Nb): 337 +/- 20 ppm
• Palladium (Pd): 5 +/- 3 ppm
• Indium (In): 25 +/- 8 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 29,800 +/- 8,000 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #6) Shed – Front

• Lead (Pb): 187 +/- 22 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 12 +/- 7 ppm
• Tin (Sn): 30 +/- 11 ppm
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): 102 +/- 40 ppm
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 156 +/- 39 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 277 +/- 35 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): non-detect
• Titanium (Ti): 3,766 +/- 1,249 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 285 +/- 15 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): 303 +/- 24 ppm
• Palladium (Pd): non-detect
• Indium (In): non-detect
• Iron (Fe): 41,200 +/- 1,200 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): 32 +/- 12 ppm
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #7) Tomato Cage

• Lead (Pb): 37 +/- 13 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 14 +/- 7 ppm
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): 72 +/- 33 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 236 +/- 33 ppm
• Manganese (Mn): 768 +/- 219 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,454 +/- 1,218 ppm
• Zirconium (Zr): 226 +/- 14 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): 436 +/- 26 ppm
• Palladium (Pd): non-detect
• Indium (In): non-detect
• Iron (Fe): 37,300 +/- 1,100 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 67 +/- 41 ppm
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• No other metals detected 

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Sample #8) Sand Pit

• Lead (Pb): non-detect
• Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
• Tin (Sn): non-detect
• Mercury (Hg): non-detect
• Selenium (Se): non-detect
• Barium (Ba): non-detect
• Arsenic (As): non-detect
• Chromium (Cr): non-detect
• Antimony (Sb): non-detect
• Copper (Cu): non-detect
• Zinc (Zn): non-detect
• Manganese (Mn): non-detect
• Titanium (Ti): non-detect
• Zirconium (Zr): 239 +/- 12 ppm
• Niobium (Nb): non-detect
• Palladium (Pd): non-detect
• Indium (In): 11 +/- 7 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 5,616 +/- 288 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): non-detect
• Bismuth (Bi): non-detect
• No other metals detected 

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For those new to this website

Tamara Rubin is a 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. Her work was also responsible for two CPSC product recalls in the summer of 2022, the Jumping Jumperoo recall (June 2022) and the Lead painted NUK baby bottle recall (July 2022) and was featured in an NPR story about Lead in consumer goods in August of 2022. 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 are 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.