Soil screening, health, outreach, and partnership or soilSHOP is a community health education program developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). As a partner state, Utah DHHS staff work with partner agencies to host soilSHOP events to raise community awareness about lead hazards and how to reduce and prevent lead exposures.

View the soilSHOP FAQ sheet for more information: soilSHOP FAQ Sheet

Consulte la hoja de preguntas frecuentes de soilSHOP para obtener más información en español: soilSHOP en español

Collect soil from several spots in the area you want tested. For garden areas, dig 6 inches deep and collect all 6 inches of soil. For play areas, collect soil from about 2 inches deep. Mix soils from all spots in the specific area but keep your garden and play areas separated. Put the sample in a container and remove large debris. (If you want 2 areas tested, you’ll need 2 plastic bags.) If the soil is wet, dry the soil (e.g., leave it in the sun) before you package it in a sealed, clear plastic bag.

How to collect a soil sample video

Once you have collected your soil sample, fill out this registration form to bring to the soilSHOP event. This registration form is to make sure your soil samples are correctly logged.

soilSHOP registration form

The Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP) is partnering with Summit County Health Department and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to host a soilSHOP on Wednesday, July 16 2025 at The Wasatch Community Gardens. 

Join us from 11am-5pm, and bring up to three soil samples to find out the concentration of lead in your yard, playground, or garden!

In the flyer below, you can see how to collect a soil sample from your property!

https://appletree.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/soilSHOP-English-1.pdf

If you are a local government or a community-based organization and would like to host a soilSHOP in your community, contact us at [email protected].

On April 27, 2024 EEP partnered with the Weber-Morgan Health Department and the Department of Environmental Quality for a soilSHOP at the Ogden Botanical Gardens. EEP screened soil samples for lead, provided one-on-one consultations of the results, and offered health education on the adverse effects of lead and how to minimize your exposure.

The Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP) attended Greenwood Charter School's earth day family night in Harrisville, Utah on Thursday, April 18th, 2024 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. EEP collected soil samples for lead analysis at our soilSHOP in Ogden, Utah, and provided health education about the health effects of lead. 

On April 29, 2023, we conducted a soilSHOP at the Utah State University's (USU) Ogden Botanical Gardens "Earth Day Birthday Celebration."

At the USU Ogden Botanical Gardens, we were asked to conduct another soilSHOP at the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. This soilSHOP took place on June 3, 2023.