Project Metadata

The North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project (NASGLP) is being undertaken by the national governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico.  This tri-national project was established to generate soil data collected using a consistent set of protocols and to have these data recognized and used by policy makers and regulators dealing with health and environmental protection.  The study will also provide a coordinated common approach for health and environmental risk assessment.

A Canada-United States pilot study consisting of two soil sampling transects (E-W and N-S) was carried out in 2004 to establish a methodology for the collection, preparation and analysis of soil samples for the NASGL Project.  In 2007, systematic sampling began in Canada and continued in 2008 and 2009.  The 2009 field season marked the end of NASGLP activities in Canada as the result of a change in GSC priorities.

The following reports were published:

 

Year of Sampling	Area	Publication
2004	*E-W transect across the central United States; *N-S transect through Manitoba into the U.S., south to New Mexico;	USGS Open File Report 2005-1253
2007	NB, NS, PEI	GSC OF 6433
2008-2009	NL, NB, NS, QC, ON, MB, SK, AB, BC	GSC OF 7334

 

*The Geological Survey of Canada carried out sampling on a north-south transect from northern Manitoba into North Dakota.  The United States Geological Survey carried out sampling on a north-south transect from Minnesota, south to the Mexican border and on an east-west transect across the central U.S.