Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How can I measure the amount of lead in soil?

Hi there,

Depending on where you live, you may have several options for testing the lead content of soil.

Your state health department or state environmental health lab probably offers lead testing services, and your county cooperative extension office, or a cooperative extension office at a nearby university, may also be able to test soil for you for a small fee. The web pages of your state health department and county cooperative extension are a good place to begin your search, if a Google search doesn't turn up the info right away.

In addition, there are several for-profit providers of "do it yourself" soil lead test kits that you can find with a Google search for "soil lead test." These tests vary in their sensitivity and precision, so if you decide to go with a DIY test make sure it's one that will give you sufficiently precise data for your needs.

Good luck!

Will

Hi,

The prior expert gave you excellent practical advice on how to test for lead. If you are interested in how lead is analyzed, this post will described the methods used.

Here are some discussions other students have had with our experts on lead analysis:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... f=3&t=2768

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... =29&t=6176

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... =28&t=3129

Here is a description of how some people analyze for lead in soil using atomic absorption spectroscopy:

http://las.perkinelmer.com/content/Rela ... nation.pdf

Here is an explanation of what atomic absorption spectroscopy is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_abs ... ectroscopy

Another common way to analyze for lead is XRF (x-ray flourescence):

http://las.perkinelmer.com/content/Rela ... nation.pdf

Here is an explanation of what XRF is:

http://www.nitonuk.co.uk/info/xrf.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_fluorescence

There are hand held XRF instruments that can be rented.

Here is an article surveying lots of ways to analyze for lead:

http://www.luc.edu/faculty/afitch/Artic ... istics.pdf

Here is an experimental description of a colorimetric method of determining lead (dithizone complexation):

http://resources.edb.gov.hk/~science/hk ... HKCWCC.pdf

Here is one of the original articles describing the dithizone method:
http://www.jbc.org/content/119/2/553.full.pdf

As you can see pretty much all the methods either use expensive equipment or poisonous chemicals (potassium cyanide) which makes them impractical for you to do by yourself. If you really want to do this analysis yourself you will need to find a mentor who has the equipment and can help you used it safely.
The one possible exception to this would be to locate a commercial lead soil testing kit designed for consumer use. You might ask your local agricultural county extension agent for recommendations.

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the advice!!