Soil Toxicity

Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Kansas (XRF test results, May 2023)

Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Kansas (XRF test results, May 2023)

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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…

Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Omaha, Nebraska (XRF test results, May 2023)

Soil sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Omaha, Nebraska (XRF test results, May 2023)

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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…

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

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

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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…

Soil Samples from Rockville, Maryland – 2022

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…

Soil Samples from Muscatine, Iowa – 2022

Soil Samples from Muscatine, Iowa – 2022

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Published: October 31, 2022 Test results for four soil samples sent in by a Lead Safe Mama reader from Muscatine, Iowa. 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…

Soil Sample from Noblesville, Indiana: Lead-Free!

Soil Sample from Noblesville, Indiana: Lead-Free!

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August 4, 2022 – Thursday XRF test results for the soil sample from Noblesville, Indiana (pictured) Article discussing soil hazard levels Article discussing testing soil Article discussing what I have done to address soil contamination in our yard 60-second test Repeated multiple times to confirm the results Lead (Pb): non-detect Cadmium (Cd): non-detect Tin (Sn):…

Soil sample from Chesterfield, Missouri: 22 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)

Soil sample from Chesterfield, Missouri: 22 ppm Lead (safe by all standards)

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   August 4, 2022 — Thursday XRF test results for the soil sample from Chesterfield, Missouri (pictured): Article discussing soil hazard levels Article discussing testing soil Article discussing what I have done to address soil contamination in our own yard 60-second test (repeated multiple times to confirm results) Lead (Pb): 22 +/- 7 ppm Cadmium…

A’s soil from Marin County, California (samples collected June, 2022) & a sample of caulk and wool.

A’s soil from Marin County, California (samples collected June, 2022) & a sample of caulk and wool.

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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. Article discussing soil hazard levels Article discussing testing soil Article discussing what I have done to address soil contamination in our yard Sample…

TQ’s soil from Bozeman, Montana (samples collected May 24, 2022).

TQ’s soil from Bozeman, Montana (samples collected May 24, 2022).

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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. Article discussing soil hazard levels Article discussing testing soil Article discussing what I have done to address soil contamination in our yard Sample…

L’s soil from South Carolina

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. Article discussing soil hazard levels Article discussing testing soil Article discussing what I have done to address soil contamination in our yard Sample…

XRF Test Results For Burpee Natural & Organic Seed Starting Mix (2022).

XRF Test Results For Burpee Natural & Organic Seed Starting Mix (2022).

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Wednesday – April 27, 2022 Readers often send me soil samples to test. This is the first time someone has sent me “Seed Starting Mix.” She didn’t include a photo of the package or the actual package, but I will ask her for that so I can update this post with more details. In the…

Soil from Novato (from S.): range of 0 ppm Lead to 23 ppm Lead.

Soil from Novato (from S.): range of 0 ppm Lead to 23 ppm Lead.

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To learn more about what these soil test results mean, click here. Soil sample test results from more testing I have done: Click to see soil test results from Topanga, California Click to see soil test results from “Southern California” Click to see soil test results from Missouri Test results for 3 soil samples &…

Soil from Connecticut (from Jennifer): range of 58 ppm Lead to 1,177 ppm Lead.

Soil from Connecticut (from Jennifer): range of 58 ppm Lead to 1,177 ppm Lead.

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To learn more about what these soil test results mean, click here. Soil sample test results from more testing I have done: Click to see soil test results from Topanga, California Click to see soil test results from “Southern California” Click to see soil test results from Missouri Test results for 13 soil samples from…

Missouri State Soil Samples, Child’s School Project: High of 341 ppm Lead

Missouri State Soil Samples, Child’s School Project: High of 341 ppm Lead

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   For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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 four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

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

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

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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…

Soil from Southern California (XRF Test Results – February 2019).

Soil from Southern California (XRF Test Results – February 2019).

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Someone sent me some soil to test, and I thought I would share the results here with all of you! Although most of the items sent in by folks for me to test are household consumer goods, I often get soil samples to test for families with concerns about toxicants in their yard (or garden,…

Study: Remediating Soil Lead with Fish Bones, January 2012

Study: Remediating Soil Lead with Fish Bones, January 2012

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“Fish bones are made of the phosphate mineral apatite, which readily combines with lead to form pyromorphite, a stable crystalline mineral that can’t be absorbed by the human digestive system.1,2 Now researchers are using fish bones and other phosphate-rich amendments to remediate lead in urban soils. “We have seen reduction in bioaccessibility in some lab…

You tested my soil, what do the results mean? How do I interpret the data? Is my soil safe?

You tested my soil, what do the results mean? How do I interpret the data? Is my soil safe?

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Click here to read my post about soil testing. You may hear “experts” say that all soil has some amount of lead in it today, in the post-industrial revolution modern era.  This is simply not true. I have personally tested countless soil samples from around the country that were completely negative (non-detect / ND) for lead,…