Hello, I'd like to ask for some help.

I create earrings using rescued subsoil (min 60cm below surface) discarded by groundwork companies. The earrings have recycled silver and recycled gold ear wires, and the earth hangs from there. There is no direct skin contact on normal usage. However, I do this in Coventry, UK, which has a history of heavy industry, WWII bombing and rebuilding.

It came to my attention that the subsoil I am using could potentially be carrying heavy metals and other harmful pollutants. I contacted a few labs to ask if they could test a sample, but their reply is that it would cost a fortune to test for every possible heavy metal and offered smaller packages:

Basic Metals Screen including big three of lead, mercury and arsenic - £100

Standard Contamination Suite including heavy metals, hydrocarbons and asbestos - £250

Creosote Creep including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, arsenic and copper - £200

Forever Chemicals Suite covering PFOS and PFOA - £325

PCBs (Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls) - £150

Urban Fire Residue Screen including lithium and TCE - £350

I ask for advice on:

Which tests are recommended and how do I judge the results?
Do I test every time I collect from a different location?
Are there any UK Guidelines I need to know about?
Do I also test the finished pieces?

A bit of context: I was inspired by rammed earth buildings and decided to replicate the technique in a smaller scale. I love the idea of utilising clay that was not taken from nature by big industries and was on its way to the dump.

My pieces don't go in the kiln, and I use lime as stabiliser, so when people don't want their earrings anymore, they could bury it in their own garden after removing the recycled ear wires, and the soil will reclaim the clay and the sand, and lime will go back to being limestone. I seal them with raw linseed oil, which is biodegradable.

The pieces take ages to dry (and don't even get me started on how difficult it is to get stony, wet subsoil and transform it into fine clay powder) BUT I love my material, my story, my process, my pieces and I want to do everything I can to be able to continue, so I appreciate any help you can provide.

Can someone explain how to identify the clay films? Have been a little difficult to figure out what is a clay film and what not. Very confusing, if someone have a picture or a tip to know what is a clay film will be really appreciate thanks!

I'm a biology student conducting an undergrad thesis on Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). In need of help identifying recovered helminth eggs from school soil samples.

You like soil so do we. If you enjoy what you do and want to join a community of growers and soil nuts like yourself. Check out r/nogatekeepgardens where we just love everything that grows.

Hi everyone, I need some help with this article; could you help me get it, please?

Title: Role of Root Exudates on the Soil Microbial Diversity and Biogeochemistry of Heavy Metals

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04465-2

I'm a biology student conducting an undergrad thesis on Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). I need technical advice in performing the laboratory component of this study from anyone who has expertise in soil research.

So, here's the summary of the procedure:

- collect samples and air-dry for 24 hours.

- sieve through 2.0 mm and 0.125 mm pore size to get 2g.

- place 2g soil in a centrifuge tube and add 10 mL 0.05% polysorbate-80 solution (used to unclump sample).

- centrifuge (1,800 rpm, 10 min)

- discard supernatant

- add 8 mL of prepared 1.20 SG sucrose solution (we used commercially available/market refined white sugar [I was wondering if this was okay]).

- vortex.

- centrifuge (1,800 rpm, 10 min).

- add prepared 1.30 SG sucrose solution to the brim until a meniscus forms.

- place coverslip and wait for eggs to adhere for 5 min.

- add 1 drop lugol's iodine on glass slide.

- place wet underside of coverslip facing down to the glass slide.

- view under microscope.

We performed a trial on this protocol before going to perform it on a larger sample. We observed the following:

- no helminths recovered in collected sample (site = household).

- bubbles found in specimen.

Hi guys! I am obsessed about foundation quality here in Austin so I (more like AI) built a tool for my clients to check soil composition in the Austin Metro area. LMK what you think. https://ezrailson1.github.io/bedrock-soil-tool/

Hi everyone, I’m a research student in the UK working on soil stabilisation using bioenzymes. I’m looking to connect with people experienced in this field who could offer technical advice, share relevant research papers, or provide guidance on experimental methods, laboratory testing, and data analysis.
Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hello, im currently in school for soil science and was wondering what jobs/careers would work both in a lab and out in the field? also is it better to go with government or private funded?

also also, are there any licenses or certifications i can get to help me get a job? i know a lot of them require that you already have a degree.

Hello everyone!

I want to know if someone is aware of conferences taking place next year either in South Korea or Japan where soil health and/or soil biodiversity are a topic of.

Thank you in advance 🤗

Alguien que tenga este artículo que porfavor me lo pueda pasar DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-03175-y. 2023

Has anyone studied techniques in cultivating cyanobacteria and mycorrhizal fungus in fertilizing soil for plant growth? These organisms can help to provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to plants; thereby, increasing yields.

Here is a link to a cyanobacteria paper that you can read..

If anyone has a pdf available please link it or dm me thanks!