Pesticide Residue Test

The Safe Soil UK Pesticide Residue test takes in insecticides in the Organochlorine and Organophosphate classes. It also includes a measure of organic matter in your soil because many of the established safe levels for these products are dependent on the level of OM in the soil.

Organochlorine Class
The use of organochlorines as insecticides was banned in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s and in the EU and UK in 1984 because of their high toxicity and their ability to remain in the environment, making them persistent organic pollutants. They are prone to bioaccumulation, ie tend to build up in fatty tissues and remain in the bodies of mammals including humans for a long time. The best-known organochlorines are DDT, aldrin, and endrin, all of which were used in the 1940s as pesticides in agriculture.
 
Organochlorines play a part in multiple illnesses while symptoms of poisoning can include tremors, headache, dermal irritation, respiratory problems, dizziness, nausea and seizures. They are also linked with cancer, Parkinson’s disease and birth defects among other things. Many are also hormone disruptors with studies suggesting that even low levels of exposure in the womb can damage the reproductive and immune systems of the fetus.
 
Organophosphate Class 
Organophosphates are compounds formed through the esterification process involving phosphoric acid and alcohol. According to the National Library of Medicine (NKM), these chemicals “serve as primary components in herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides and have extensive application in manufacturing plastics and solvents”. Organophosphates are also the primary constituents of nerve gas. 
 
The effects of organophosphates depend on the level and length of exposure but NLM states that toxicity includes potential altered mental status, miosis, lacrimation, salivation, emesis, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, diaphoresis, muscle fasciculations, and weakness. 
 
“Fatalities result from respiratory failure, often accompanied by bradycardia, bronchorrhea, and bronchospasm,” the NKM adds.
 
We do not have safe level of organophosphate in soils so merely list the presence of any if they are above the level of detection.
 
List of elements
Please note that due to the length of the list below, our reports focus on descriptions and safe for use levels of only the following, which make up much of the most commonly used in this class in the UK: Aldrin, Dieldrin, Alpha-HCH, Beta-HCH, Gamma-HCH (Lindane), Endosulphan A and Endosulphan B (Thiodan) though the full list of organochlorine class elements included in the Pesticide Residue Test is as follows:
alpha-HCH
beta_HCH
gamma-HCH (Lindane)
delta-HCH
Heptachlor
Aldrin
Heptachlor expoxide
trans-Chlordane
alpha cis-Chlordane
p,p-DDE
Dieldrin
Endrin
p,p-DDD
Endosulfan II
Endrin aldehyde
p,p-DDT
Endosulphan sulphate
Methoxychlor
Endrin ketone
 
The full list of Organophosphate class elements included in the Basic Pesticide Residue screen is as follows:
Aziniphos-ethyl
Aziniphos-methyl
Bromophos-methyl
Carbophenothion
Chlorpyrifos
Chlorpyriphos Methyl
cis-Chlorfenvinphos
Diazanon
Dichlorvos
Dimethoate 
Ethion 
Fenitrothion 
Fenthion 
Malathion
Mevinphos E 
Parathion-Ethyl 
Parathion-Methyl 
Perimiphos-Methyl
Phorate
Phosalone
Propetamphos
trans-Chlorfenvinphos
Triadimefom
Triazafos