CEN/TC 345 - Characterization of soils

ISO 25177:2008 is a guide for describing the soil and its environmental context at a given site. Sites can be natural, near-natural, urban or industrial. It is important to realize that a number of soil samples can be taken at a site to support the soil description. The information provided by the descriptions in ISO 25177:2008 provides the context for the presentation of results from analyses undertaken on soil samples.

ISO 15175:2004 provides guidance on the principles behind, and main methods for, the evaluation of sites, soils, and soil materials in relation to their role as a source of contamination of groundwater and their function in transporting, degrading and transforming contaminants. It identifies and lists relevant monitoring strategies, methods for sampling, soil processing and analytical methods.
ISO 15175:2004 is applicable to the evaluation of the impact of contaminants on groundwater in relation to drinking water quality, irrigation water quality, industrial use and natural base flow.

ISO 16133:2004 gives general guidance on the selection of procedures for the establishment and maintenance of programmes for long-term monitoring of soil quality. It takes into account the large number of objectives for soil-monitoring programmes.
ISO 16133:2004 is intended to help provide a basis for dialogue between parties which might be involved in a monitoring scheme. Examples of soil-monitoring programmes from several countries are provided in Annex A.

ISO 19258:2005 provides guidance on the principles and main methods for the determination of pedo-geochemical background values and background values for inorganic and organic substances in soils. ISO 19258:2005 gives guidance on strategies for sampling and data processing and identifies methods for sampling and analysis. ISO 19258:2005 does not give guidance on the determination of background values for groundwater and sediments.

This International standard specifies a method for quantitative gas-chromatographic determination of volatile hydrocarbons, naphthalene and volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in soil. This International standard is applicable to all types of soil. NOTE In the case of unsaturated peaty soils, absorption of the extraction solution may occur. The lower limit of determination is dependent on the equipment used and the quality of the methanol grade used for the extraction of the soil sample. Under the conditions specified in this International Standard the following limits of determinations apply (expressed on basis of dry matter): Typical limit of determination when using GC-FID: Volatile aromatic hydrocarbons: 0,1 mg/kg Typical limit of determination when using GC-ECD: Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons: 0,01 mg/kg. Lower limits of determination for some compounds can be achieved by using mass spectrometry (MS) with selected ion detection.

ISO 22155:2011 specifies a static headspace method for quantitative gas chromatographic determination of volatile aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons and selected aliphatic ethers in soil.
ISO 22155:2011 is applicable to all types of soil.
The limit of determination is dependent on the detection system used and the quality of the methanol grade used for the extraction of the soil sample.
Under the conditions specified in ISO 22155:2011, the following limits of determination apply (expressed on the basis of dry matter):
Typical limit of determination when using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID):
volatile aromatic hydrocarbons: 0,2 mg/kg;
aliphatic ethers as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME): 0,5 mg/kg.
Typical limit of determination when using gas chromatography/electron capture detection (GC/ECD):
volatile halogenated hydrocarbons: 0,01 mg/kg to 0,2 mg/kg.
Lower limits of determination can be achieved for some compounds by using mass spectrometry (MS) with selected ion detection.