How to Test Arsenically Soil Manually

The naturally occurring element, arsenic, is found in the environment combined with other natural elements including oxygen, sulfur and chlorine or in organic matter. Inorganic arsenic can be found in many types of stones and ores that contain nickel, lead, copper or iron. Arsenic, the 20th most abundant element in the earth's crust is often found in soil as residue from industrial sites. Organic and inorganic arsenic compounds are colorless or white powder. Arsenic does not evaporate and has no taste or odor. Without chemical laboratory analysis, it is not possible to know whether arsenic is present in air, water or soil.

The thing you need

Shovel or garden shovel

Plastic basket

Zip-lock plastic bag

Dust mask

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Evaluate your property for possible arsenic poisoning. Review the historical use of the land. Houses built on wooden yard sites, sawmills or industrial facilities may have previously been built on contaminated land. Pressurized processed wood is impregnated with heavy metals, including arsenic, chromium and copper, to make weather-resistant wood. These heavy metals slowly leech into the ground and groundwater. The location where this material is applied or treated wood is stored may have a high arsenic concentration. Children who climb play equipment made of wood that are treated with pressure and also pets that like to hide under wooden idexx indonesia decks, at risk of arsenic.

Test the soil. Take a random sample of plot or yard. Dig a hole as deep as 8 to 10 inches. Move back 1 inch from the edge of the hole and remove a clean piece of soil, a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Place the soil in a plastic bucket. Don't use a metal bucket because metal can contaminate the results of the test. Continue in the same way, picking up pieces of soil in a random location. Place all sample pieces in the same bucket and mix thoroughly, removing stones and roots.

Spread the sample media on several layers of newspaper until it is completely dry. Make sure the soil is dry. Wet soil will not provide accurate testing results. When the soil is dried, put 1 liter of material in a zipper-lock plastic bag to be submitted to the testing laboratory. Request a complete soil analysis, specifically requesting laboratory tests for arsenic. Testing is available from district extension offices or agriculture departments in most universities and colleges. The district extension office also has test kits available to test wood on the deck or play equipment. Ask for the "wood wipe" test kit for arsenic.