Soil from Exton, Pennsylvania (XRF test results, April 2023)

For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-Federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead-poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (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. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

Published: April 5, 2023 — Wednesday

Note: IF you are sending soil samples to Lead Safe Mama, LLC for testing, please follow the instructions on the link below very carefully and send no more than one teaspoon to one tablespoon of soil per sample. When larger amounts of soil are sent, especially when the surface soil is intermingled with soil under the surface, the readings are not particularly useful — IF there is contamination on the surface, it is less likely to be detected due to the fact that larger samples will likely contain large quantities of non-surface soil, which will dilute any surface level toxicity readings. Thank you. We are not currently accepting samples until at least July 16, 2023.

Summary for this soil sample set below

This is among the cleanest soil sample sets that I have ever tested (aside from samples that were entirely negative for Lead and Cadmium). Under 40 ppm Lead is considered safe by all standards (even Lead Safe Mama, LLC’s standards, which are more strict than any regulatory standard in the United States)! I don’t have an answer for why five of the samples tested positive for trace levels of Cadmium (air pollution perhaps? natural mineral makeup of the soil in the area?), but even this level of Cadmium is considered extremely low. The high amount of vegetation and sand in some of the samples has done a good job of helping keep the levels low. In general, high-vegetation levels are the best answer to create safer soil.

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

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

Each set of test results below is representing a test for at least 60 seconds on the sample. Samples are tested multiple times to confirm the results. Notes in pink are the location notes from the person who sent me the samples.

Sample One (Past Property Land/Sand Drop-Off):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
- Test #2: 8 +/- 3 ppm
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): 14 +/- 9 ppm
Titanium (Ti): 1,402 +/- 855 ppm
Zirconium (Zr): 343 +/- 10 ppm
Niobium (Nb): 210 +/- 14 ppm
Indium (In): 8 +/- 5 ppm
Iron (Fe): 5,365 +/- 212 ppm
No other metal was detected.

Sample Two (Med Pine Tree Halfway on Property/Plant Matter):

Lead (Pb): 7 +/- 3 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 22 +/- 7 ppm
Titanium (Ti): 632 +/- 292 ppm
Bromine (Br): 7 +/- 2 ppm
Zirconium (Zr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Iron (Fe): 1,950 +/- 61 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): 8 +/- 4 ppm
No other metal was detected.

Sample Three (Next to Road):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): 9 +/- 4 ppm
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): 26 +/- 17 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 47 +/- 11 ppm
Silver (Ag): 4 +/- 3 ppm
Titanium (Ti): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Bromine (Br): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zirconium (Zr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Iron (Fe): 7,549 +/- 251 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
No other metal was detected.

Sample Four (Half Tree 3/4 Back):

Lead (Pb): 11 +/- 4 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 15 +/- 6 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
Zirconium (Zr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Iron (Fe): 1,754 +/- 57 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): 7 +/- 4 ppm
No other metal was detected.

Sample Five (Large Pine Tree, Center of Property):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): 10 +/- 4 ppm
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 16 +/- 9 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): 1,850 +/- 798 ppm
Bromine (Br): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zirconium (Zr): 224 +/- 8 ppm
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): 10 +/- 5 ppm
Iron (Fe): 8,136 +/- 260 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
No other metal was detected.

Sample Six (10 ft. off the Road, Near Wood Pile):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): 10 +/- 4 ppm
Tin (Sn): 10 +/- 6 ppm
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 29 +/- 10 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): 2,040 +/- 816 ppm
Bromine (Br): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zirconium (Zr): 376 +/- 19 ppm
Niobium (Nb): 229 +/- 15 ppm
Indium (In): 17 +/- 5 ppm
Iron (Fe): 7,528 +/- 403 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
No other metal was detected.

Sample Seven (Three Tree Cluster, Front of Property):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): 12 +/- 4 ppm
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 14 +/- 9 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): 3,799 +/- 805 ppm
Bromine (Br): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zirconium (Zr): 388 +/- 11 ppm
Niobium (Nb): 214 +/- 13 ppm
Indium (In): 13 +/- 5 ppm
Iron (Fe): 9.498 +/- 270 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): 13 +/- 6 ppm
No other metal was detected.

Sample Eight (Small Tree 80% Back off of Road):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): 15 +/- 9 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 15 +/- 6 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Bromine (Br): 3 +/- 2 ppm
Zirconium (Zr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Iron (Fe): 991 +/- 44 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
No other metal was detected.

Sample Nine (Back of Property):

Lead (Pb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Cadmium (Cd): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Tin (Sn): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Mercury (Hg): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Selenium (Se): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Barium (Ba): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Arsenic (As): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Chromium (Cr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Antimony (Sb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Copper (Cu): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zinc (Zn): 19 +/- 5 ppm
Silver (Ag): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Titanium (Ti): 750 +/- 233 ppm
Bromine (Br): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Zirconium (Zr): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Niobium (Nb): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Indium (In): Non-detect/ Negative (nd)
Iron (Fe): 1,771 +/- 47 ppm
Bismuth (Bi): 5 +/- 3 ppm
No other metal was detected.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. I will do my best to answer them as soon as I have a moment.

Tamara Rubin
Owner — Lead Safe Mama, LLC
#LeadSafeMama