Testing for motor oil etc in soil

[momster]

Hi everyone,

We are planning our garden in our new/old house. We did a small amount of soil lead testing before moving in and I know there is high lead near the house and lower levels farther out so I'm going to send in more samples to see if there is a safe area for planting in terms of lead. Unfortunately though I just learned that the former owners used to sometimes fix cars here. I don't know where, but I can imagine from things I've seen that they might've parked the cars anywhere in the yard!!!

So, does anyone know about soil testing for motor oil, gasoline and other contaminants that might come from fixing cars? The labs that I've looked into for lead testing don't offer this kind of testing.

Thanks!

[Chicky2]

I do not have any helpful advice other than putting in raised beds. Good luck!

[MaJoie]

Lots of compost. The microbes will break down the hydro-carbons left in the soil from petroleum products.

[mattemma04]

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Edited by mattemma04 - 4/21/12 at 3:12pm

[Buzzer Beater]

Dh is an ag extension soil chemist and says universities general can't afford to test for those things... and really couldn't think of a lab that would. He suggested raised beds also.

[mattemma04]

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Edited by mattemma04 - 4/21/12 at 3:04pm