Capabilities > Soil Analysis
Soil Analysis & Testing
From contaminated site assessment to agricultural fertility evaluation - our NATA accredited laboratories deliver accurate, reliable soil testing result across Australia.
NATA
Accredited
8+
Testing disciplines
5 day
Standard TAT
Soil Contamination
Contaminated Site Assessment
Land contamination from industrial, agricultural, and urban activity is one of the most common challenges in environmental management. Whether you're assessing a site for development, managing remediation, or meeting regulatory requirements, accurate soil testing is the foundation of every informed decision.
Our laboratories test for the full range of contamination parameters, including hydrocarbons, heavy metals, PFAS, organics, and more — with results you can rely on for regulatory submission and site management.
- Total Recoverable Hydrocarbons (TRH) and BTEX
- Heavy metals — arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Pesticides — OCP, OPP, herbicides, phenoxy acids
- Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs / SVOCs)
Acid Sulphate Soils
Acid Sulphate Soil Testing
Acid sulphate soils (ASS) contain iron sulphides that, when disturbed through excavation or drainage, rapidly oxidise to form sulphuric acid. This poses serious risks to concrete and steel infrastructure, surrounding vegetation, and water quality.
Our Sydney and Perth (MPL) laboratories are NATA accredited for the complete suite of acid sulphate soil testing methods.
- Full SPOCAS suite — pH KCl, TAA, KCl extractable S, Ca, Mg, pHox, TPA
- Chromium Reducible Sulphur (SCr) suite
- pHF, pHFOX and pHINC field and laboratory methods
- ANCe, SNAS, peroxide extractable S, Ca, Mg
Standard turnaround: 5 working days for SPOCAS or SCr suite analysis. Samples should reach the lab within 24 hours of collection — contact us for cold storage or frozen sample requirements.
ASBESTOS IN SOIL
Asbestos Identification in Soil
Asbestos-containing materials can be present in soil as a result of illegal dumping, demolition debris, or historical use of fibrous materials as fill. Identifying asbestos accurately is a regulatory requirement during construction, excavation, and civil earthworks.
Laboratory analysis is the most reliable method of positive identification. Our NATA accredited team provides qualitative identification across all major fibre types.
- Chrysotile (white asbestos)
- Amosite (brown asbestos)
- Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
- Asbestos-containing material (ACM) screening
PFAS
PFAS Testing in Soil
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants linked to historical use of firefighting foams (AFFF) and a wide range of industrial applications. Their high mobility makes them a contamination risk well beyond the original site of use — including in landfill leachate.
Envirolab is accredited to quantitate 28 PFAS compounds using LC-MS/MS technology, with capability continuing to expand. We were also an early adopter of the Total Oxidisable Precursor Assay (TOPA) for detecting PFAS precursor compounds.
- PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA and 25+ additional compounds
- LC-MS/MS analysis — fast, accurate, multi-matrix
- Total Oxidisable Precursor Assay (TOPA)
- Testing in soil, water, blood/serum and biota
METALS
Heavy Metals in Soil
Industrial activity, mining, agriculture and waste disposal all contribute to heavy metal contamination in soil. These contaminants persist in the environment and can affect human health, agriculture, and groundwater quality if not identified and managed.
Our laboratories use ICP-OES as standard analytical finish, with ICP-MS available for trace-level analysis (parts per billion) for elements including uranium and thorium.
- Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc
- ICP-OES for standard analysis
- ICP-MS for trace metals at ppb levels
- Full suite of industrial and mining-related metals
Organic COmpound testing
Organic Compound Testing
Organic contaminants enter soil through industrial processes, fuel spills, agricultural chemicals, and manufacturing byproducts. Many are carcinogenic or persist in the environment at levels that require regulatory action.
- TRH, BTEX — aliphatic and aromatic speciation
- PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
- Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides
- PCBs, phenols, carbamates, pyrethroids
- SVOC screens (>200 compounds), VOC screens (>80 compounds)
- GC-MS scans for unknown compound identification
Non-Metallic Inorganics & Physical Properties
Inorganic Chemistry & Physical Characterisation
Soil fertility, agricultural suitability, and engineering assessments all depend on understanding a soil's inorganic chemistry and physical properties. Our laboratory testing covers the full range of parameters required for agricultural, civil, and environmental applications.
- Agricultural tests — phosphorus, sulphur, cation exchange (K, Na, Ca, Mg)
- pH, EC, fluoride, chloride, sulphate, nutrients (NOx, TKN, PO4)
- Cyanide — total, free, WAD (gas works, mining, industrial)
- Physical: resistivity, soil moisture, texture, PSD, TOC
- ESP (Exchangeable Sodium Percentage), CEC
Waste Characterisation
Waste Classification & Leachate Testing
Industrial waste from contaminated sites requires characterisation before disposal to determine appropriate classification, containment methods, and cost. Proper assessment reduces the long-term risk of contaminant migration into groundwater and surrounding soil.
Envirolab was the first commercial laboratory in Australia to achieve NATA accreditation for LEAF (Leachate Environmental Assessment Framework) testing
- Leachate analysis — TCLP, ASLP, MEP, SPLP
- LEAF methods (first NATA accredited lab in Australia)
- Foreign Material Testing per NSW EPA waste classification guidelines
Note: Waste characterisation requirements vary by state and material type. Contact our team to confirm the correct testing suite for your project and jurisdiction.
Ready to get started?
Talk to our team about your soil testing requirements — fast turnaround, NATA accredited, Australia-wide.