Frequently Asked Questions

The kit contains a safely packed glass jar (or jars if more than one test) and all the labelling and packaging required to send the sample to the lab. The kit also includes a How to Sample leaflet.

Once you have dropped off your sample at the Post Office or organised pick up from your home the lab will take two days to begin analysis. The lab will then take five working days to analyse the sample. The letter report outlining the findings will be with you shortly after this. The entire process from posting to results being sent to you should take about two weeks. If you have not received the results, check your junk email (or spam) in case it has ended up in there. If there is an issue, Soil Check will sort it out.

Please either refer to our How to Sample page or review the How to Sample leaflet inside the sample kit.

The Soil Check Safe Soil kit tests for common contaminants of concern including metals, metalloids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The contaminants tested for are in the general environment both naturally and from manmade processes. The contaminants tested for all pose risks at certain levels as carcinogens (increase cancer risk), mutagenic (can cause mutations or increase them) and poisonous to internal organs when built up. It is not an exhaustive test as there are lots of chemicals and compounds, but it covers the broad strokes. The individual contaminants tested for are:

Metals/ Metalloids:Boron, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium (trivalent and hexavalent), Copper, Mercury, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, Vanadium and Zinc

PAHs:Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)Pyrene, Dibenz(a,h)Anthracene and Benzo[g,h,i]perylene

Soil Check will also check for soil organic matter to ensure the correct allowable levels are used for the PAHs (these vary with more organic matter in the soil).