Lead in soil — gardens, play areas, drip lines, schools.
Soil lead is concentrated near drip lines of older painted exteriors, in former industrial-use lots, and in urban gardens. We sample where exposure is most likely — and report against the standards that matter for the use of the land.
What's in scope.
Below is the standard scope for an Envirex lead in soil testing engagement. We size the project to the building — line-item, fixed-fee — and write the quote against this catalog.
Site review.Walk the property to identify likely high-lead zones: drip lines of pre-1978 painted structures, former gasoline-era driveways, industrial-use lots, vegetable beds, child play areas.
Discrete & composite sampling.Surface (0–6 inch) discrete samples in high-priority zones; composite sampling in lower-priority areas for cost-efficient coverage.
AIHA-LAP lab analysis.Samples sent to an AIHA-LAP accredited lab for analysis by EPA 3050B / 6010. Results expressed in ppm (mg/kg).
Contour mapping (multi-sample projects).Where the project warrants, sample results are mapped to show concentration gradients — useful for prioritizing remediation.
Use-specific reporting.Results compared against use-relevant standards: child-occupied play areas, residential, school grounds, urban gardening.
Regulatory framework.
Every Envirex engagement is run against the regulator who will ultimately read the report. Here are the rules that shape lead in soil testing work in New York.
EPA Soil Lead Hazard Standard.Bare soil in play areas: 400 ppm. Bare soil in the rest of the yard: 1,200 ppm (under 2024 update; check current values).
NYS DEC Part 375.Soil cleanup standards for restricted-residential, residential, commercial and industrial use categories.
HUD Lead-Safe Housing Rule.Bare-soil thresholds for HUD-assisted housing — same play-area and yard categories as EPA.
School / child-care use.More stringent action criteria where children regularly contact the soil — typically aligned with play-area standards.
Best suited for.
Pre-purchase diligence on older urban lots, schools and daycare facilities, community gardens, properties with exterior-paint or industrial-use history.
What you receive.
Sampling report with per-sample concentrations, threshold comparison, location map, and (where applicable) recommended remediation approaches.
Lead in Soil Testing FAQ.
Quick answers for owners, agents and counsel scoping this work.
Where should I sample?
What can be done if soil is contaminated?
Do you do urban-garden sampling?
From our library.
A few short pieces from the Envirex library that go deeper on this topic.
Lead in school facilities: what NY school districts owe parents
New York's school lead obligations span drinking water, paint and renovation.
Read article Lead TestingNYS Lead Rental Registry: what owners in targeted ZIPs need to know
New York State's targeted lead rental registry now reaches dozens of ZIP codes outside NYC.
Read articleReady to schedule an inspection or quote a project?
Tell us about your property and what you need. We'll return a clear, written quote — no obligation, no pressure.