What Are Heavy Metals & Why They Matter

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that can be toxic to humans and the environment when present at elevated levels. While some metals—such as copper and zinc—are essential in small amounts, others like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium can cause health issues even at very low concentrations.

Exposure to heavy metals can occur through:

• Soil & Dust – Legacy contamination from industrial activities, leaded gasoline, pesticides, old building materials, or properties affected by fires.

• Water – Corrosion of pipes or fixtures, or naturally occurring metals in groundwater.
  

Why It Matters: 

• Long-term exposure to heavy metals can affect the nervous system, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Children are especially vulnerable as metals can interfere with development and learning. Identifying and addressing heavy metal sources helps create a safer, healthier indoor and outdoor environment.

Heavy Metals Testing

• Our Heavy Metals Testing service provides a thorough assessment of potential contamination in soil, settled dust, and water.

Our Process

• Inspection & Sampling –

  • We survey the property and collect representative samples of soil, settled dust, or water following industry standards.
    

• Soil Sampling – Recommended for properties with suspected historical contamination, such as former industrial sites, older residential areas, or locations near high-traffic roads. Soil testing is also strongly recommended for vacant lots that have been recently cleared prior to building a new structure, to ensure no legacy pollutants remain that could affect future occupants. This testing helps identify and address contaminants before construction begins, reducing potential exposure risks.
  

• Settled Dust Sampling – Useful for determining whether metals are present in surface dust that could be inhaled or ingested, particularly after renovations, fires, or demolition.
  

• Water Sampling – Helps detect metals that may be entering drinking water through plumbing corrosion or groundwater contamination.
  

• Laboratory Analysis & Report –

•  Samples are analyzed for a comprehensive list of metals, including:
  Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Selenium, Silver, Thallium, Vanadium, and Zinc. 

• Your final report will include:

• A basic floor plan or site plan with sample locations

• Photos of sample areas

• Clear interpretation of laboratory results compared to regulatory and health-based guidelines
  

• Recommendations –

  • If elevated levels are found, we provide guidance on potential next steps to help reduce exposure and protect occupants.
    

• Clearance Testing (If Applied) –

  • After any remediation or hazard control work, clearance testing helps ensure that the area is safe before re-occupancy or construction. This process typically involves:
    

• Visual Inspection –

  • Confirming that all work areas are clean and free of visible debris.
    

• Dust Wipe Sampling –

  • Collecting samples from surfaces such as floors, windowsills, and other horizontal areas to verify that dust levels are below regulatory limits.
    

• Soil Sampling (When Applicable) –

  • For vacant lots or outdoor areas where contaminated soil has been removed, follow-up soil sampling can confirm that the site meets cleanup objectives before new structures are built or the land is reused.
    

This final step provides documentation that remediation was successful and helps protect future occupants, workers, and the environment.