Heavy metals in buildings — more than lead alone
When "heavy metals in old buildings" is discussed, most people think first of lead in water pipes. That's legitimate — but it falls short. In Austrian buildings, depending on construction year and use, at least seven heavy metals can come into play, all of which can be determined side-by-side in a single sample using the same method (ICP-MS).
The spectrum:
- Lead (Pb) — water pipes (before 1945, partly to 1960s), white lead and red lead in paints (windows, doors, radiators, railings), solder joints at copper pipes, lead flashings, window putty, glassy ceramic glazes.
- Cadmium (Cd) — red, yellow, orange lacquers and pigments (cadmium sulphide, 1950s–1980s), galvanised metalware of older types, PVC stabiliser in old floor coverings.
- Chromium (Cr, incl. Cr-VI) — CCA wood preservatives (chromium-copper-arsenic, impregnation until the 1990s), chromate-containing corrosion-protection paints on steel parts, cement components in old buildings (Cr-VI as trace substance).
- Arsenic (As) — CCA wood preservatives (see above), old wallpapers (Schweinfurt green — copper acetoarsenite, pre-1930), pesticide residues in stables and storage rooms of old farm buildings.
- Nickel (Ni) — galvanised surfaces, stainless steel components (more allergy than toxicity).
- Copper (Cu) — copper pipes (largely unproblematic, but relevant in water analysis to evaluate solder joints), Bordeaux mixture and copper-containing wood/plant preservatives.
- Zinc (Zn) — galvanised steel, old gutters, pigments. More a marker for other metals than critical itself.
Mercury (Hg) — on request. Topics: old thermometer/apparatus glass breakage sites, mirror coatings (pre-1900), amalgam residues in former dental practices, industrial legacy sites.
Where we analyse — typical sample types
Drinking water and water pipes
The most common enquiry. A water sample (stagnation sample per ÖNORM or flushed sample) shows what actually comes out of the pipe. €19 per element means: targeted Pb test (sufficient when the suspicion is clear) or multi-element panel (€19 × number of elements). The Austrian drinking-water limit for lead is 10 µg/l; for cadmium 5 µg/l; for arsenic 10 µg/l.
Paints, lacquers and coatings
Before 1980 very often lead (white lead, red lead), in red/yellow/orange lacquers also cadmium. Material sample (€49 first element, €29 each additional) — we measure the paint sample or paint splinter. Important before any renovation involving sanding or hot-air removal.
Wood preservatives (CCA and copper-based agents)
CCA-impregnated structural timber is often recognisable by its greenish-grey colour. When suspected — fence posts, carports, old playground equipment, roof-truss structural members — a small material sample by ICP-MS. Cr and As are the critical elements.
Corrosion protection on metal
Red lead (Pb₃O₄) and zinc chromate primers on steel parts were standard until the 1980s in structural steelwork. Relevant for restoration of historic industrial objects or older bridges/railings — sampling of the coating layers.
Others (pigments, wallpapers, glazes)
Old wallpapers with green pigments ("Schweinfurt green") can contain arsenic — today mostly relevant in heritage conservation consultancy. Ceramic glazes in old-building tiles can be lead-bearing.
Health risk — the key points
- Lead is a neurotoxin and particularly dangerous for children (neurological development, learning difficulties, kidneys, blood formation). There is no safe threshold for small children.
- Cadmium accumulates in kidneys and bones; nephrotoxic; classified by IARC as human carcinogen Group 1 (lung on inhalation).
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) is carcinogenic (lung on inhalation, IARC Group 1) — Cr-III by contrast is relatively harmless; we therefore distinguish via speciation where suspected.
- Arsenic is a human carcinogen (skin, lung, bladder, IARC Group 1) and neurotoxic; accumulates in hair and nails.
- Mercury is neurotoxic and damages kidneys — even very low concentrations can become relevant in closed rooms when the source continuously off-gases.
How we analyse
Method
ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) — one of the most sensitive methods for trace metals in water and material. One sample, many elements, detectable in the ppb range. Accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 (DAkkS, internationally recognised under the ILAC-MRA).
When useful, additionally: - Chromium speciation (Cr-III vs. Cr-VI) for accurate risk assessment in wood preservatives - Arsenic speciation (inorganic vs. organic) when evaluating food or soil samples
Workflow
- Free initial consultation — we clarify which sample type and which elements actually make sense for your case. Often 2–4 targeted elements are sufficient, not the whole panel.
- Sampling — by us on site (site-inspection €290), or by you following instructions (water only — material samples involving fibre/dust risk we do not recommend in self-handling).
- Laboratory analysis — ICP-MS at an accredited partner lab.
- Report + result discussion — clear context, comparison with limits, concrete recommendations.
Costs
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Water / liquid sample — per element | €19 |
| Material / solid sample — first element | €49 |
| Material / solid sample — each additional element on the same sample | €29 |
| Site-inspection flat fee (1–2 h on-site, sampling, 45-min result discussion) | €290 |
| Video initial consultation | free |
Examples:
- Lead-pipe check (Pb only in water): €19
- Full drinking-water panel (Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Ni, Cu, Zn = 7 elements): €133
- Paint sample on lead only: €49
- Paint sample on Pb + Cd + Cr (3 elements, same sample): €49 + 2 × €29 = €107
- Wood sample on CCA wood preservative (Cr + Cu + As, 3 elements): €49 + 2 × €29 = €107
We discuss in the initial consultation which elements actually make sense for your case — usually 2–4 targeted elements are sufficient.
Accreditation & legal note
Laboratory analyses are performed in partnership with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories — currently via DAkkS (Germany's national accreditation body), internationally recognised under the ILAC-MRA and equivalently applicable in Austria.
Note: We are not court-appointed sworn experts. For legal proceedings requiring the highest evidentiary standard, we recommend additionally engaging a court-appointed expert.
Last updated: 16 May 2026.
Frequently asked questions
By default lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr, optionally speciated to Cr-VI), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Mercury (Hg) and rarer elements on request. The analysis is performed by ICP-MS — same workflow regardless of how many elements you have analysed.
Water samples: €19 per element (Pb alone €19; a 7-element drinking-water panel therefore €133). Material samples: €49 for the first element, €29 for each additional element on the same sample material (Pb in paint €49; Pb+Cd+Cr in the same paint €107). The site-inspection flat fee is €290. In the free initial consultation we discuss which elements actually make sense for your case — usually 2–4 targeted elements are enough.
Lead pipes are grey, soft and can easily be scored with a knife. They are most common in buildings before 1945, partly into the 1960s. A water sample (€19 for Pb) shows whether lead is actually reaching your drinking water; a solder-joint material sample (€49) confirms the suspicion directly at the pipe.
Yes, particularly in red, orange and yellow lacquers and paints from the 1950s–1980s (cadmium sulphide as a pigment). Also in old galvanised metalware and in PVC floor coverings of that era. Cadmium is nephrotoxic and carcinogenic.
CCA wood preservatives (chromium-copper-arsenic salts) were used in Austria until the 1990s for treated structural timber, fence posts and playground equipment. They contain potentially mobile Cr-VI and arsenic. Where suspected (greenish-grey wood coloration), this can be reliably identified in the laboratory.
Yes. The drinking-water limit for lead in Austria is 10 µg/l (drinking-water regulation); for cadmium 5 µg/l, for arsenic 10 µg/l. Heavy metals accumulate in the body. For young children and pregnant women there is no safe threshold for lead — values below the limit can still be neurologically problematic.
Yes — that's even the most common entry point. €19 per element means: targeted Pb check for €19 (sufficient when the suspicion is clearly lead pipes). If you want the full panel, costs add up — we discuss in the preparation call which elements actually make sense for your case.
Remediation: what does removal cost?
Typical remediation costs (rough estimates)
- Replace lead pipes (apartment)€1,000–€4,000
- Replace lead pipes (house)€3,000–€10,000
- Encapsulate / over-paint lead paintfrom €500
- Professionally remove lead paint€1,000–€5,000
- Dismantle + dispose of CCA-treated woodsituational
A targeted test from €19 (water) or €49 (material) gives you clarity — before you estimate renovation costs without findings.
After remediation we offer a control measurement. More about renovation monitoring →