I'm looking to start growing vegetables in the spring. While I'll probably be utilizing raised garden beds, I'm interested in having the soil in the area tested for lead, heavy metals, etc.
Any recommendations on where to get tests that won't break the bank?
Rutgers more like $20. In this area, be prepared to find lead, but they also provide very good information on it, if you test positive for high levels. The people on the phone are super nice and helpful also.
Also research which crops are sensitive to lead. There is a lot that you can plant in leaded soil without an issue because the veggie/fruit part does not store lead. I have a raised bed for sensitive crops and plant non-sensitive crops directly in the ground.
I would say that there is a good chance you would find some lead since people scrapped exterior paint without vacuums in the past.
That and auto emissions are the big sources. So areas that are near major throughways will more than likely test higher for lead (Springfield Ave, for instance--all those years of leaded gasoline...)
