Analysis of Hazardous Elements in Polluted Soil: Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act, JIS K 0470

User Benefits

- Analysis of soil is possible with simple sample preparation. - The lower limit of detection was enhanced by installation of a high output X-ray tube; in particular, the detection limits of Cd and other heavy metals were greatly improved. - Screening analysis of the hazardous heavy metals listed in the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act and JIS K 0470 is possible.

Introduction

Analysis of hazardous elements in soil is important in terms of preventing environmental pollution, securing the safety of agricultural products, and preventing damage to human health. Japan’s Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act, enacted in 2002, may be mentioned as a law for prevention of soil contamination. In addition, JIS K 0470, “Determination of arsenic and lead in clay and sand using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry,” provides a quick and simple quantitative analysis method for arsenic and lead in soils and sands that can be applied at factory sites and other contaminated areas. Shimadzu’s new energy dispersive X-ray fluorescencespectrometer (EDX) "ALTRACE" enables analysis of hazardous elements in soil with only simple sample preparation, and the detection limits of cadmium and other heavy metals, which had been difficult to analyze by conventional EDX, were also greatly improved by increasing the output of the X-ray tube. This Application News introduces an example of analysis of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and chromium (Cr) among the Class 2 Designated hazardous substances (Heavy metals, etc.) specified by the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act.

October 14, 2025 GMT