The Safe Soil Tester is a briefcase-sized device, that can test
soil samples for pollution on the spot In the same way that
polluted water can be deceptively clear, polluted soil can just
look like plain old dirt. Given the contaminants that can be
left behind by gas plants, oil refineries and other industries,
however, it's very important to check that the soil in an area
isn't toxic, before building houses or growing crops there.
Presently, soil samples have to be sent off to laboratories,
where processing can take up to two weeks. British entrepreneur
Ed Bell, however, has invented a briefcase-sized soil-testing
unit that can be carried into the field, where it provides
results within minutes.