Testing for Contaminants
Types of Tests
Water testing
Water include items of natural origin and those
resulting from human activities. Common reasons for
testing water may be the presence of unusual taste,
appearance or odor, or the need to check the suitability
of a new water supply for drinking, irrigation or other
uses. Most routine water tests can detect common
contaminants -- e.g., iron, nitrates or bacteria -- that
are either esthetics or health concerns. Specialized
tests are required to detect more unusual pollutants,
such as pesticides or gasoline. Your local health
department should be your first contact agency for water
issues. (For more details on water testing, see Extension
bulletin WQO2, Testing of Private Wells.) Soil testing
Soil testing
For home gardeners, soil analysis provides guidelines
on meeting the nutrient needs of lawns, fruits and
vegetables. Analysis of your soil can also help you
select the most effective and environmentally sound
pesticide application rates for your conditions.
Concerns about the physical and chemical properties of
your soil, as well as possible contaminants, should be
directed to your county Extension office. Questions about
soil testing needed for the proper installation of septic
or water systems should be directed to your local health
department.
Air testing
Most air testing is performed to detect particulates
and volatile (easily vaporized) compounds that may pose
an environmental and/or health threat. If you suspect
that the air in your home is contaminate by air
particulates, such as asbestos fibers, or by volatile
compounds, such as formaldehyde, you should contact your
local health department. If it cannot provide test
services, it can make referrals and may give you advice
on what steps you can take to alleviate your concern.
When you are concerned about exposure to particulates o
volatiles in the workplace air, you should contact your local
Department of Public Health. If you have any
questions about outdoor air quality, such as nearby
emissions or peculiar odors, the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources is the first agency to contact.
Feed and food testing
Foods and feeds are usually tested to determine
nutritional content and value or to detect contaminants,
such as mold toxins or pesticides. Routine testing of
commercially available foods and fee is the
responsibility of your local Department of Agriculture
is done to enforce regulations on nutritional
content labeling and to determine if contaminants in
foods and feeds exceed federal tolerance levels. Foods
grown privately by farmers or gardeners for human or
animal consumption are not routinely tested by regulatory
agencies. In some instances, you may want to have food
tested because of concern about contaminants that may
cause some adverse health effect -- e.g., pesticide
residues in fruits and vegetables or bacterial
contamination of dairy products. If you suspect
contamination of commercial or privately grown food,
contact the food Division of the your local Department of
Agriculture or your local health department. Contact your
county Cooperative Extension Service office, the
Department of Agriculture (Food Division) or local
veterinarian if you need information about nutritional
or contaminant testing of feeds.
Plant/insect/nematode testing
Plant testing services include identification,
disease diagnosis, nutrient composition determination and
some contaminant analysis. Analysis of insects and
nematodes is generally limited to identification of crop
pests. Some inorganic and contaminant analysis of plants
is done by private laboratories, while plant disease
diagnosis and identification of plants, insects and
nematodes is done. Before requesting this testing,
consult your county Extension office for advice.
Biological specimen testing
Testing of biological specimens (blood, urine,
tissue) is usually done only at the request of
professionals such as physicians and veterinarian. They
may use the services of private laboratories, depending on
the tests required and the
circumstances of the situation, or they may perform the
tests themselves. To reiterate, the majority of this
biological specimen testing is performed under
recommendations of a veterinarian or physician and is not
directly available. Questions about biological testing should be
directed to the appropriate professional -- e.g.,
physician or veterinarian.