PFAS

Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury can accumulate in the soil and enter the human body through crops or direct contact. Prolonged exposure can lead to kidney problems, neurological damage, and other health risks.

Pesticides are chemical substances used to control pests and diseases in crops. Residues of these can remain in the soil and at high concentrations can be harmful to health and the environment.

Anyone who wants certainty about the quality of their soil. Think of people with a vegetable garden or garden, parents with children playing outside, people buying a house or landscaping a garden, people living near (former) industry, agricultural land or busy roads, and anyone who wants to use their soil for growing crops.

Pollution is not visible to the naked eye. The only way to be sure is to have your soil analyzed in a laboratory.

The turnaround time is on average 10 business days after the sample is received in the laboratory.

The price depends on the type of test. Check our current offerings on the website. The price includes return shipping and transaction fees.

The analyses are performed by Normec Groen Agro Control under ISO17025 accreditation (RvA L335).

Sure. For larger quantities or business inquiries, you can contact us via our contact form. For extensive commercial soil research, we refer you to Normec Groen Agro Control.

After your order, you will receive a test kit with sampling materials and clear instructions. Follow these instructions carefully for a reliable result. [LINK TO INSTRUCTION VIDEO]

The required amount of soil is described in the instructions included with the test kit.

For a representative result, we recommend sampling multiple locations and combining them into one composite sample. Detailed instructions can be found in the test kit.

We test for: Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Mercury, Lead, Nickel, Tin.

Your soil is tested for more than 450 different pesticides and herbicides. [LINK TO FULL LIST]

You will receive an analysis certificate by email. This will include the measured values of the tested substances. With your order, you will also receive an interpretation document that explains how to read the results.

In the Netherlands, intervention values (RIVM) exist for heavy metals in the soil, above which remediation may be recommended. Whether your values are actually concerning also depends on the soil type and the acidity (pH) of your soil: in acidic soil, plants absorb heavy metals more quickly than in calcareous soil. The interpretation document you receive with your results provides more explanation about this.

There is no direct consumer standard for pesticides in the soil. The value of the test lies in knowing whether there are pesticides present in your soil and which ones. In case of significant findings, we advise contacting your local municipality or a soil remediation company.

For PFAS in eggs, there is a specific Dutch framework that tells consumers exactly what is safe. For heavy metals and pesticides in the soil, this is more complex: the risks depend on soil type, pH, and intended use of the land. There is no simple safe/unsafe boundary. We offer you an interpretation document, but in case of doubt, we always advise consulting a specialist.

If elevated levels are detected, you may consider: not growing crops in the affected area, using raised beds with clean soil, increasing the pH by adding lime, not allowing children to play in the affected area, or contacting a specialized soil remediation company.