Testing for contaminants: (click here for printer-friendly version)
Many times people wish to test soil for possible contaminants. They may be concerned about poor growth of lawn or ornamentals, or starting their first vegetable or fruit planting on a site. The MSU soil lab does not test for environmental contaminants in soil. One example of a prominent regional lab that does provide this service is A&L Great Lakes in Ft. Wayne IN. http://www.algreatlakes.com On their site you can find testing options, sampling and submittal forms. There are other, similar labs and this does not represent an endorsement of one over another. Click here for a list of Other labs serving Michigan, some of which may offer contaminant testing as well as soil testing.
Here are 3 things you may want to consider in regard to testing soil, and following that, there is more information on types of contaminant testing (water, air..) and whom to contact.
1. There is no one test for all contaminants: it will take many separate tests, some quite expensive, to rule out many possible contaminants.
2. For diagnosing plant problems, a test for soil contaminants is least likely to contribute to a solution. Soil nutrient testing, tissue sampling and sending plant samples to MSU Diagnostic Services should be tried first. Even if herbicide use is suspected, it may be very difficult to document from soil residues if that actually caused plant damage. Early symptoms on the plants are more likely to help in diagnosing chemical injury.
3. Unless you have history of the site or other pertinent information suggesting pollution, the risk of contaminants in the soil affecting fruits and vegetables grown in it, or affecting those who eat the produce, is very small. Most substances degrade in soil or leach out of it, and many are not taken up by plants even when fairly high concentrations are present in the soil.
*Lead is not a plant nutrient, but a soil test is available for lead due to concerns about possible health problems from elevated lead levels in soil. High concentrations of lead are most likely in soil near heavily traveled roads and around structures where lead-based paint has peeled away. Even though lead-based paints and leaded gasoline are not presently used to a great extent, lead is very immobile in the soil and will persist for a long time. Most plants do not absorb and accumulate lead to the extent it will be a health hazard. Health concerns from lead are primarily due to direct ingestion of contaminated soil and dust from contaminated soil. This soil and dust may be ingested along with fruits and vegetables grown on contaminated soil due to adherence of soil particles on root crops or splashed by rain onto above-ground parts. For this reason, soils that have a lead test result above 300 ppm are not recommended for growing fruit or vegetable crops for consumption. Some experts suggest testing children's sandboxes for lead.
Types of Tests for contaminants
Water testing Potential contaminants of water include items of natural origin and those resulting from human activities. Common reasons for testing water may be the presence of unusual taste, appearance or odor, or the need to check the suitability of a new water supply for drinking, irrigation or other uses. Most routine water tests can detect common contaminants -- e.g., iron, nitrates or bacteria -- that are either esthetic or health concerns. Specialized tests are required to detect more unusual pollutants, such as pesticides or gasoline. Your local health department should be your first contact agency for water issues. (For more details on water testing, see Extension bulletin WQO2, Testing of Private Wells.)
Soil testing For home gardeners, soil analysis provides guidelines on
meeting the nutrient needs of lawns, fruits and vegetables. Analysis of your
soil can also help you select the most effective and environmentally sound
pesticide application rates for your conditions. Concerns about the physical and
chemical properties of your soil, as well as possible contaminants, should be
directed to your county MSU Extension office. Questions about soil testing
needed for the proper installation of septic or water systems should be directed
to your local health department.
Air testing Most air testing is performed to detect particulates and
volatile (easily vaporized) compounds that may pose an environmental and/or
health threat. If you suspect that the air in your home is contaminate by air
particulates, such as asbestos fibers, or by volatile compounds, such as
formaldehyde, you should contact your local health department. If it cannot
provide test services, it can make referrals and may give you advice on what
steps you can take to alleviate your concern. When you are concerned about
exposure to particulates or volatiles in the workplace air, you should contact
the Michigan Department of Public Health. If you have any questions about
outdoor air quality, such as nearby emissions or peculiar odors, the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources is the first agency to contact.
Feed and food testing Foods and feeds are usually tested to determine
nutritional content and value or to detect contaminants, such as mold toxins or
pesticides. Routine testing of commercially available foods and fee is the
responsibility of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and is done to
enforce regulations on nutritional content labeling and to determine if
contaminants in foods and feeds exceed federal tolerance levels. Foods grown
privately by farmers or gardeners for human or animal consumption are not
routinely tested by regulatory agencies. In some instances, you may want to have
food tested because of concern about contaminants that may cause some adverse
health effect -- e.g., pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables or bacterial
contamination of dairy products. If you suspect contamination of commercial or
privately grown food, contact the food Division of the Michigan Department of
Agriculture or your local health department. Contact your county Cooperative
Extension Service office, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (Food Division)
or local veterinarian if you need information about nutritional or contaminant
testing of feeds.
Plant/insect/nematode testing Plant testing services include
identification, disease diagnosis, nutrient composition determination and some
contaminant analysis. Analysis of insects and nematodes is generally limited to
identification of crop pests. Some inorganic and contaminant analysis of plants
is done by private laboratories, while plant disease diagnosis and
identification of plants, insects and nematodes is done at MSU. Before
requesting this testing, consult your county Extension office for advice.
Biological specimen testing Testing of biological specimens (blood,
urine, tissue) is usually done only at the request of professionals such as
physicians and veterinarian. They may use the services of private, MDPH or MDA
laboratories, depending on the tests required and the circumstances of the
situation, or they may perform the tests themselves. To reiterate, the majority
of this biological specimen testing is performed under recommendations of a
veterinarian or physician and is not directly available. At MSU, however, the
Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory does offer, to the public, consultation and
testing services involving animal problems. Questions about biological testing
should be directed to the appropriate professional -- e.g., physician or
veterinarian.
Substance to be Tested: Initial Contact
Water: Local health department
Soil (suitability for septic system) Local health department
Soil (composition or contaminants) County MSU Extension
Air (home) Local health department
Air (workplace) Michigan Department of Public Health (Division of Occupational Health) (517)335-8250
Air (outdoor) Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Air Quality Division) (517)373-7023
Food Michigan Department of Agriculture (Food Division) (517) 373-1060 or local health department
Feed County Cooperative Extension Service office or Michigan Department of Agriculture (Food Division) (517)373-1060 or veterinarian
Plant/insect/nematode County MSU Extension office
Biological specimen Physician or veterinarian or MSU Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (517)353-1683
For general information call the MSU Center for Environmental Toxicology at
(517) 353-6469.
This information comes from Michigan State University Extension
bulletin E-2016, Testing for Contaminants.