Accredited Soil & Land Testing
Soil and land testing is required in a range of regulatory and investment situations: when changing land use, undertaking construction projects on post-industrial sites, carrying out environmental monitoring at landfills, assessing historical ground contamination and in remediation proceedings. OIKOS performs accredited physicochemical, organic, mineral and biological soil testing under PCA accreditation No. AB 934 (PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025). Results are accepted by environmental protection authorities (RDOŚ, WIOŚ) across Poland.
Why OIKOS for Soil Testing
Five reasons our soil testing stands out — including 35 years of experience with historical contamination assessment:
- Full soil testing scope — heavy metals, mineral oils, pH, moisture, dry mass and further physicochemical, organic and biological parameters
- AB 934 accreditation — results issued with a test report accepted by RDOŚ, WIOŚ and other regulatory bodies
- Serving multiple purposes — historical contamination assessment, pre-investment site characterisation, remediation monitoring, building permits
- Experienced soil sampling staff — proper sample representativeness is a prerequisite for reliable results
- 35 years serving the industrial, construction and municipal sectors — we understand historical contamination assessment
Heavy Metals, Hydrocarbons and Beyond
OIKOS carries out accredited physicochemical, organic, mineral and biological soil testing. The analytical scope covers heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, As, Hg), mineral oil content (mineral hydrocarbons C10–C40), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), pH, moisture and dry mass content — as well as further parameters arising from the characteristics of the potential contamination source or regulatory requirements.
Test results are issued as a report from the AB 934 accredited laboratory — ready for submission to the Regional Environmental Director (RDOŚ), Regional Environmental Inspection (WIOŚ) or other competent authorities. We tailor the scope to the site history, potential contamination sources or regulatory requirements.
Operating since 1988, OIKOS has been carrying out soil testing for over 35 years on behalf of investors, construction companies, industrial enterprises and municipalities. Our test reports are accepted by environmental protection authorities across Poland. Part of the European viridiusLAB AG network.
Methods & Instruments
Methods
Determination of heavy metals (MP-AES), organic substances (GC-FID, HPLC-UV), and physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, dry mass).
Instruments
Microwave digestion system, MP-AES, chromatographs, analytical sieves, drying oven, muffle furnace.
Reference documents
PN-ISO 10381 (soil sampling); Polish MoE regulation on soil quality standards; full list in AB 934 Scope.
FAQ
Soil & Land Testing Questions
When is soil testing required?
Soil testing is required or advisable e.g. when: changing land use (e.g. from industrial to residential), carrying out investment on post-industrial sites, applying for a building permit on potentially contaminated land, carrying out environmental monitoring during operation or closure of a landfill, in proceedings concerning historical land contamination (HZPZ), and when buying or selling post-industrial property (environmental due diligence).
What are the most commonly tested soil contamination parameters?
The most commonly determined parameters include: heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, As, Hg), mineral oil content (mineral hydrocarbons C10–C40), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), pH, and moisture and dry mass content. We tailor the scope to the site history and potential contamination sources or to regulatory requirements.
How are soil samples collected?
Soil sampling is carried out in accordance with PN-ISO 10381 or other appropriate reference methods. The sampling plan takes into account the purpose of testing, site characteristics, sampling depth (e.g. topsoil, saturated zones) and required representativeness. Samples are correctly labelled, secured and transported to the laboratory under conditions that prevent changes to their properties.