Testing Soil for Lead Contamination

Lead contamination in soil can be measured with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Lead is a naturally occurring element in soil, usually at 10 to 50 ppm. But soil near old paint, gasoline use, or industrial pollution can contain much higher levels. In some urban areas, lead can reach 10,000 ppm.

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The widespread use of paint and gasoline, along with industrial contamination, have caused elevated levels of lead in urban soil, which can lead to health problems.

Lead occurs naturally in soils, in levels ranging from 10 to 50 parts per million, or ppm. However, contaminated urban soils often have concentrated levels of lead, that are si...