Heavy Metals Testing (CAM 17)
Full CAM 17 panel testing of soil and building materials for California-regulated heavy metals.
California regulates 17 heavy metals — including lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and mercury — through the CAM 17 (California Assessment Metals) panel. These metals turn up in soil near older industrial areas and busy corridors, in imported fill dirt, and in building materials headed for disposal.
We collect representative samples of soil or building material, submit them to an accredited laboratory for the full CAM 17 panel, and interpret the results against California's regulatory thresholds — so you know whether material is hazardous, how it must be handled or disposed of, and whether a site is safe for its intended use.
Why this testing matters
Waste classification
Demolition and excavation waste must be classified before disposal. CAM 17 results determine whether material is hazardous waste under California law — getting it wrong is expensive in both directions.
Legacy contamination
Former industrial, agricultural, and high-traffic areas across Southern California commonly carry elevated metals in soil decades after the original activity ended.
Imported fill dirt
Fill of unknown origin is a common source of contamination on residential lots. Testing before grading protects you from inheriting someone else's problem.
Site safety
Gardens, play areas, and new construction on older lots deserve confirmation that soil metals are below levels of concern.
Project compliance
Lenders, agencies, and project owners increasingly require documented metals data before approving work.
Accredited results
All analysis is performed by an accredited laboratory, producing data that regulators and disposal facilities accept.
What's included
- Sampling plan matched to your project
- Representative soil or material sample collection
- Full CAM 17 panel at an accredited laboratory
- TTLC/STLC screening comparison as applicable
- Interpretation against California regulatory thresholds
- Written report with classification and handling guidance
Our process
- 1
Define the objective
Disposal classification, site assessment, or health-driven screening — the objective shapes how many samples we take and where.
- 2
Field sampling
Samples are collected at documented locations and depths with chain-of-custody handling.
- 3
CAM 17 laboratory analysis
An accredited lab runs the full 17-metal panel, with follow-up soluble-threshold testing when totals warrant it.
- 4
Interpretation & report
We translate lab data into plain findings: what's elevated, what it means under California rules, and what to do about it.
Frequently asked questions
What metals are in the CAM 17 panel?
Antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, and zinc — the 17 metals California regulates for hazardous-waste determination.
Do I need this before disposing of demolition debris?
Frequently, yes. Disposal facilities require waste profiling, and painted or treated materials from older structures often trigger metals testing before they'll accept a load.
How many samples will my project need?
It depends on the volume of material and the objective — a single stockpile needs fewer samples than a full-lot assessment. We'll scope it precisely during your free consultation.