ASTM D6911-03(2010)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D6911 − 03(Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
Packaging and Shipping Environmental Samples for
Laboratory Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6911; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil
Samples
1.1 This standard provides guidance on the selection of
D4840 Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody Procedures
procedures for proper packaging and shipment of environmen-
D5079 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core
tal samples to the laboratory for analysis to ensure compliance
Samples
with appropriate regulatory programs and protection of sample
D5903 Guide for Planning and Preparing for a Groundwater
integrity during shipment.
Sampling Event
1.2 This standard does not address transport of hazardous
D6089 Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Sampling
wastes for disposal purposes.
Event
D6517 Guide for Field Preservation of Groundwater
1.3 This standard does not address the selection of
parameter-specific sample bottles or containers. Samples
2.2 Shipping Regulations:
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information
oraseriesofoptionsanddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourse International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous
Goods Regulations, 43rd Edition, January 2002
of action. This guide cannot replace education or experience
and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations
fortheSafeTransportofRadioactiveMaterial,Section10,
Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circum-
stances. This guide is not intended to represent or replace the Publication IAEA TS-R-1
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional
service must be judged, nor should this guide be applied InstructionsfortheSafeTransportofDangerousGoodsby
Air, Document #9284-AN/905
without consideration of the many unique aspects of a project.
The word “standard” in the title of this guide means only that
U.S. Government Printing Office, Title 40 Code of Federal
the guide has been approved through the ASTM consensus
Regulations Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
process.
(RCRA), Part 261
U.S. Government Printing Office, Title 49 Code of Federal
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Regulations Transportation (DOT), Parts 170-174
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
U.S. Postal Service, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Mail USPS Publication 52
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.1 carrier—a commercial company that is responsible
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
for the actual shipment of environmental samples from the
Fluids
point of sample receipt from the shipper to the sample’s final
destination.
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
3.1.2 dangerous goods—those goods that meet the criteria
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.25.01 on Mulches and
Tackifiers.
of one or more of nine United Nations (UN) hazard classes
Current edition approved . Published September 2010. Originally approved in
and, where applicable, one of three UN packaging groups
2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D6911–03. DOI: 10.1520/D6911-
according to the provisions of shipping regulations.
03R10.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3.1.3 environmental sample—containerized liquids, solids
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
or gases that are collected for the purpose of laboratory
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. analysis.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6911 − 03 (2010)
3.1.4 inner packaging—packaging for which an outer pack- 5.3.1 Refusal to deliver the environmental samples to their
age is required for transport (for example, a sample bottle or intendeddestination,whichcanresultinsampleintegritybeing
container). compromised, chain-of-custody being broken, or sample hold-
ing times being exceeded;
3.1.5 outer packaging—the outer protection of a composite
5.3.2 Assessmentoffinancialpenaltieswhichcanbesevere;
or combination packaging together with any absorbent
and/or
materials, cushioning and any other components necessary to
5.3.3 Imprisonment for blatant illegal shipment of danger-
contain and protect sample bottles or inner packaging.
ous or hazardous substances.
3.1.6 shipper—the person who actually packages and pres-
ents environmental samples to a commercial carrier for ship-
6. Procedures for Packaging and Shipping
ment or who personally transports samples. The shipper is
Environmental Samples
commonly the person who collected the environmental
6.1 Planning—As indicated in Guide D5903, the Sampling
samples.
and Analysis Plan (SAP) for a project will specify the number
3.1.7 shipping—the commercial or private transport of en-
of samples to be collected for each medium being sampled (for
vironmental samples via highway, rail, vessel or aircraft.
example, soil, groundwater, surface water, soil gas, sediment
4. Significance and Use and corresponding quality control samples).This SAPwill also
include a discussion on the need to plan for the appropriate
4.1 This standard provides guidance in determining the
number, size(s), and type(s) of outer packaging based on the
most appropriate procedures for packaging and shipping envi-
number and sizes of sample containers to be filled and to plan
ronmental samples. Use of this guide by personnel involved in
for adequate space in outer packaging to accommodate inner
packaging and shipping environmental samples will facilitate
packing materials and temperature controls. The SAP will
safe, effective and compliant procedures.
specify the analyses to be performed on each sample and
5. Regulatory Requirements
should also indicate the type of sample bottle or container and
volumerequiredforeachanalyte.TheSAPshouldalsoprovide
5.1 The shipment of many environmental samples falls
guidanceonselectionofthemethodsforsamplepackagingand
underthejurisdictionofnationalandstandardizedinternational
shipment of samples to the laboratory for analysis when
regulations whenever samples exhibit one or more properties
dangerous or hazardous samples are anticipated.
that classify the samples as being dangerous or hazardous. Not
all environmental samples, however, satisfy the criteria for
6.2 Regulatory Responsibilities of the Shipper—The sample
being classified as dangerous or hazardous substances. These
shipper is responsible for ensuring that all environmental
samples can be packaged and shipped as non-regulated or
samples are packaged, labeled, and marked in a manner that is
non-hazardous environmental samples.
consistent with applicable shipping regulations. Failure to do
so puts the shipper at risk of the penalties discussed in 5.3.
5.2 It is the shipper’s responsibility to determine which
regulations apply to the environmental samples requiring
6.3 Determination of Dangerous or Hazardous Properties
shipment. This determination must be made prior to sample
of Environmental Samples:
collection to ensure compliance with shipping regulations at
6.3.1 Prior to collection of environmental samples, it is
the conclusion of sample collection. The primary sources of
necessary to determine the hazard class of a sample. If this is
shipping regulations that can apply to environmental samples
unknown, the shipper must use best professional judgment to
include the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the
determine the potential for samples to exhibit one or more
International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the U.S.
hazardous characteristics (for example, through background
Postal Service (USPS). DOT regulations govern transport of
research review, interviews and review of purchasing and
samples by water, rail, roadway and air; IATA regulations
disposal records) and to determine the appropriate degree of
govern air transport of samples; USPS regulates both ground
danger associated with those hazardous properties as defined
and air delivery of samples through the U.S. Postal System.
by applicable shipping regulations (see Note 1). Table 1
Other agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) (restrictions on interstate shipment of soil samples to
prevent the spread of biological contaminants), The Interna- TABLE 1 Summary of United Nations Hazard Classes
tionalAtomic EnergyAgency (IAEA) (transport of radioactive
Class 1 Explosives
Class 2 Gases
materials by air), the International CivilAviation Organization
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
(ICAO) (shipment of the dangerous goods by air). The Inter-
Class 4 Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous
national Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (shipment by ves-
Combustion; Substances Which, in Contact with Water, Emit
Flammable Gases (for example, soil sample contaminated
sel)mayalsoneedtobeconsidered.Sampleshippersmustalso
with high concentrations of gasoline released from an
beawareofthepotentialforrestrictionsonshippingsamplesat
underground storage tank)
both the state and local levels. Shippers should contact state Class 5 Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxide
Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances (for example, samples of
and local agencies to determine any shipping restrictions.
refuse collected from a solid waste landfill)
5.3 Should dangerous or hazardous samples be shipped Class 7 Radioactive Material
Class 8 Corrosives (for example, nitric acid used for preservation of
using methods not in full compliance with applicable regula-
some groundwater samples) (see Note 2)
tory requirements, the following penalties can be assessed to
Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
the shipper:
D6911 − 03 (2010)
TABLE 3 Examples of Proper Shipping Names and Associated
summarizes the nine United Nations (UN) hazard classes that
UN Numbers
are defined within shipping regulations and provides three
Proper Shipping Name/ UN
examplesofenvironmentalsamplesthatmightmeetthecriteria
Example of Environmental Sample
Description Number
of a given hazard class. Table 2 summarizes the degree of
Flammable solid, organic, 1325 Soil sample saturated with gasoline
hazard associated with dangerous goods being shipped as
n.o.s.
defined by applicable shipping regulations. Nitric acid 2031 Sample preservative that is other
than red fuming, with 70 % or
NOTE 1—Dangerous or hazardous properties of environmental samples
less, but more than 20 % nitric
are as defined specifically by shipping regulations. Definitions developed acid
Refrigerant gas, n.o.s. 1078 Surface water sample containing
for use under other regulatory programs may be substantially different and
(Tetrafluoromethane, mixture of Freon 14™ and Freon
are not applicable. For example, a corrosive liquid under IATA definition
Trifluoromethane) 23™
is “a substance which, in the event of leakage, can cause severe damage
by chemical action when in contact with living tissue or can materially
damage other freight or the means of transportation.” This is determined
through a series of intact skin tissue exposure tests and/or corrosive tests
on steel or aluminum for defined exposure periods. Under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a corrosive liquid is defined as
one shipping name. The selected shipping name must accu-
a liquid with a pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5,
as determined by a pH meter using Method 9090. rately reflect the chemical, physical or biological characteris-
NOTE 2—In a letter dated April 11, 1979, the Associate Director for
tics of the sample being shipped and must not include a Trade
Hazardous Materials Regulation of the Research and Special Programs
name.
Administration granted exception to the DOT hazardous materials regu-
6.4.2 When selecting the proper shipping name, the shipper
lations for water samples containing the corrosives: hydrochloric acid,
must consider:
mercuric chloride, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and
phosphoric acid. The listed corrosives include the preservatives com-
6.4.2.1 The dangerous or hazardous property of the sample,
monly used in water samples. This exception was revalidated in a letter
6.4.2.2 If the sample is classified as a solid (for example,
issued on December 13, 1993 and again in a letter dated February 14,
soil or sediment), liquid (for example, groundwater or surface
1997. This exception may not apply in other shipping regulations.
water) or gas (for example, soil gas or atmospheric air),
6.3.1.1 When the actual hazard class of a sample is
6.4.2.3 The anticipated or known contaminant(s) contained
unknown, the most conservative packaging group possible for
in the sample,
the chosen shipping name must be used. Refer to 6.4.1 for
6.4.2.4 Whetherthecontaminantispresentinapureformor
guidance on choosing the appropriate shipping name.
a mixture, and
6.3.2 It is possible that environmental samples may not
6.4.2.5 The preferred method of sample shipment (for
exhibitadangerousorhazardouspropertyand,assuch,maybe
example, ground transportation versus overnight air transpor-
packaged and shipped as a non-regulated sample using meth-
tation).
ods described in 6.5 and 6.6. Other packaging and shipping
6.4.3 Onceselected,thepropershippingnameisusedbythe
guidance is provided in Practices D4220, D5079, and D6517.
shipper to obtain the following information from the appropri-
6.3.3 The shipper must make the determination of sample
ate shipping regulations:
hazard prior to collection to ensure that an appropriate carrier
6.4.3.1 The corresponding UN number,
has been selected to transport samples to the laboratory and to
6.4.3.2 Correct sample packaging (inner and outer
ensure that appropriate packaging materials are available in the
packaging),
field at the time of sample preparation for shipping.
6.4.3.3 Required package labels and markings,
6.4 Determination of Proper Shipping Name and UN Num-
6.4.3.4 Restrictions on sample volumes per package,
ber for Dangerous or Hazardous Samples:
6.4.3.5
...