Lead Testing Kits for Science Fair Projects

Lead testing kits for soil science fair projects are all the rage right now. These kits are fun, educational and easy to complete. If you are interested in environmental science experiments, then these kits can not only walk you through specific experiments, but they can also provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to conduct your own field research.

Have you ever wondered how safe the soil is around your home or school? If the answer is yes then you will enjoy lead testing kits for science fair projects. These kits provide you with all the information and tools that you need to conduct an experiment that tests for lead levels in soil. However, this is not the only science experiment you can use the kit for.

What most people don't realize about science kits is that they save you money on science tools and equipment because you get everything that you need for an experiment with a single purchase. You also save money on your testing supplies because kits usually provide you with supplies for about three experiments and then provide you with an order form to get more supplies if you need them. This access to supplies and equipment is invaluable when designing your own earth science fair projects.

The first alternative experiment that you can conduct using the tools, equipment and supplies that come with lead testing kits for soil science fair projects is to determine the lead content of soil found around your school yard. In this experiment you will want to take samples both near playground equipment and near areas where students gather. Test these samples for lead concentrations and draw your own conclusions as to how safe your school grounds are. If you find high concentrations of lead around playground equipment, you may want to present this information to the principal so a cleanup crew can deal with this health hazard.

Another alternative experiment that you can conduct is to test for lead concentrations at food growing sites. If you live in a rural area that has farm or ranch land accessible, ask the landowners if you can take some soil samples for your science fair project. If they say yes, then take samples and test them for lead. If lead is found then you will need to determine if the concentration is high enough to pose a health problem, or high enough to contaminate the food being grown in the contaminated soil.

The final environment science fair project that you can complete is to trace the source of a lead contamination. This project really is only practical if you find soil samples that have high concentrations of lead in them. If you have found a contaminated soil site then you will need to do a little investigative research to trace the contamination back to a known or unknown source. You will then need to draw conclusions about how the problem developed, how it can be fixed and how the problem will develop if the contamination is not addressed.