Soil Screening
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soilSHOP events are free and generally operate on a first come, first serve basis. Residents can bring in several samples of soil from their yards, and provide information about their soil sample on a Log-In Form. Event staff will screen soil on site, and provide same-day results to event participants.
Trained technicians usually conduct the soil screening at soilSHOPs. Soil screening volunteers are asked to:
- Become familiar with the soilSHOP process and soil screening guidance,
- Screen soil samples at the event,
- Know how to use x-ray fluorescence instruments, and
- Wear personal protective equipment.
Toolkit Resources for Soil Screening
Example Soil Screening Guidance [DOC - 3MB]
Example soilSHOP Sample Labels [DOC - 49KB]
The Example soilSHOP Sample Labels.docx is a tool that can be used to keep track of all soil samples brought to a soilSHOP. They can be prepared a few weeks in advance of your soilSHOP event. Three labels are generated for each sample number. On the day of the event, each soil sample brought to the soilSHOP will be assigned a unique sample number – labels printed with that sample number are affixed to the bag of soil, completed Log In Form (Log In Form.pdf), and Soil screening Results Card (Example Soil screening Result Card.docx) or soilSHOP Trifold (soilSHOP Trifold.pdf) associated with each soil sample. Personalize this tool by replacing all instances of “EVENT NAME” and “DATE” with the name and date of your event, respectively. Print enough labels so that there can be at least one row of labels for each anticipated soil sample. Extra labels can be used for your next event.
Example Soil Screening Result Card [DOC - 225KB]
The Example Soil Screening Result Card.docx is a tool to provide each participant a take-home record of their soil screening result, along with a disclaimer about the purpose of the soilSHOP and limitations of the soil screening. Each Soil Screening Result Card will be affixed with a Sample Label at the soilSHOP event. The Soil Screening Results Cards can be prepared and printed a few weeks in advance of your soilSHOP event.
Personalize this tool by updating the soilSHOP Logo.pdf with your event name, and replacing the image used in the Example Soil Screening Results Card.docx with an image file of your revised soilSHOP Logo. Disclaimer language may also be edited for the purposes of your event. If possible, print the sample results cards on seed paper or card stock so they are more durable for participants to take home, and print enough copies so that there can be at least one card for each anticipated participant. Extra cards can be used for your next event.
Note: An alternative for providing soil screening results to participants is recording the soil screening results on the soilSHOP Trifold for participants to take home.
The Log In Form is a tool to collect information about each soil sample brought to the soilSHOP. Upon arrival at the soilSHOP, each participant completes a Log In Form to provide certain details about the nature of the soil sample he or she has brought for soil screening. These details help the XRF Soil Screening team and Health Educators understand the results of the soil screening, and communicate those results clearly during the health education consultations. Each Log In Form will be affixed with a Sample Label (Example soilSHOP Sample Labels.docx) at the soilSHOP event. The Log In Forms can be prepared and printed a few weeks in advance of your soilSHOP event. Print enough copies so that there can be at least one form for each anticipated soil sample. Extra forms can be used for your next event.
- Page last reviewed: July 11, 2016
- Page last updated: July 11, 2016
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