ISO/TC 190 - Soil quality

This document specifies the procedure for a quantitative determination of major and trace element concentrations in homogeneous solid waste, soil, soil-like material and sludge by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry or wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry using a calibration with matrix-matched standards. This document is applicable for the following elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, I, Cs, Ba, Ta, W, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U. Concentration levels between a mass fraction of approximately 0,000 1 % and 100 % can be determined depending on the element and the instrument used. An optional XRF screening method for solid and liquid material as waste, sludge and soil is added in REF Annex_sec_A \r \h Annex A 08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000C00000041006E006E00650078005F007300650063005F0041000000 which provides a total element characterization at a semi-quantitative level, where the calibration is based on matrix-independent calibration curves, previously set up by the manufacturer.

This document specifies the crucial steps of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method to measure the abundance of selected microbial gene sequences from soil DNA extract. The number of microbial gene sequences quantified by qPCR provides an estimation of the abundance of selected microbial groups in soil.

This document deals with the assessment of human exposure to metals and metalloids from ingestion of soil. It specifies a simplified method for the prediction of the oral bioaccessibility of metals and metalloids from contaminated soils. The method is a chemical extraction using hydrochloric acid (HCl) and can be used at least for first-tier screening for prediction of the oral bioaccessibility of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in soil samples. It produces extracts that are representative of the bioaccessible concentrations measured by using the validated unified bioaccessibility method (UBM) (ISO 17924). More specifically, from the extractable concentrations of metals and metalloids by HCl, the predicted bioaccessibility in both the gastric and gastrointestinal phases is calculated using the equations and the prediction intervals provided in this document, and which have been derived from simple linear regressions of data obtained during validation studies.[ REF Reference_ref_2 \r \h 2 08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B0200000008000000100000005200650066006500720065006E00630065005F007200650066005F0032000000 ] NOTE The simplified method is applicable to prediction of the metals and metalloids bioaccessibility in soil with total concentrations range from 2 mg/kg to 2 600 mg/kg for As, from 0,2 mg/kg to 480 mg/kg for Cd, and from 4 mg/kg to 50 000 mg/kg for Pb.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the following elements in aqua regia, nitric acid or mixture of hydrochloric (HCl), nitric (HNO3) and tetrafluoroboric (HBF4)/hydrofluoric (HF) acid digests of soil, treated biowaste, waste, sludge and sediment: aluminium (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), cerium (Ce), caesium (Cs), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf), holmium (Ho), indium (In), iridium (Ir), iron (Fe), lanthanum (La), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), lutetium (Lu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), neodymium (Nd), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), phosphorus (P), platinum (Pt), potassium (K), praseodymium (Pr), rhenium (Re), rhodium (Rh), rubidium (Rb), ruthenium (Ru), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), silver (Ag), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), tellurium (Te), terbium (Tb), thallium (Tl), thorium (Th), thulium (Tm), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), uranium (U), vanadium (V), ytterbium (Yb), yttrium (Y), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr). NOTE 1 Details on validation are given in Annex A. This method is also applicable for the determination of major, minor and trace elements in aqua regia and nitric acid digests and in eluates of construction products (EN 17200[ REF Reference_ref_8 \r \h 7]). NOTE 2 Construction products include e.g. mineral-based products, bituminous products, metals, wood-based products, plastics and rubbers, sealants and adhesives, paints and coatings.

This document specifies the determination of Cr(VI) in solid waste material and soil by alkaline digestion and ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection. This method can be used to determine Cr(VI)-mass fractions in solids higher than 0,1 mg/kg. NOTE In case of reducing or oxidising waste matrix no valid Cr(VI) content can be reported.

This document specifies methods for the calculation of the dry matter fraction of sludge, sludge products, treated biowaste, soil and waste for which the results of performed analysis are calculated to the dry matter basis. Depending on the nature and origin of the sample, the calculation is based on a determination of the dry residue (method A) or a determination of the water content (methods A and B). It applies to samples containing more than 1 % (mass fraction) of dry residue or more than 1 % (mass fraction) of water. Method A applies to sludge, sludge products, treated biowaste, soil and solid waste. Method B applies to liquid waste and to samples which are suspected or known to contain volatiles except for water.

This document specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of the specific electrical conductivity in an aqueous extract of soil, sludge, biowaste or waste. The determination is carried out to obtain an indication of the content of water-soluble electrolytes in a sample. This document is applicable to all types of air-dried samples of soil, sludge, biowaste and waste.

This document specifies a method for quick measurement of soil temperature using an infrared (IR) thermometer. The method is applicable to a variety of technical fields, including geology, geotechnics, biology and agricultural sciences, as well as climate change studies and metrological investigation. Note The method designated in this document is recognized as a quick measurement in ISO 4974 and meets the definition of screening method as designated in ISO 12404:2021, 3.2.

This document specifies a method for the differentiated determination of the organic carbon content (TOC400) which is released at temperatures up to 400 °C, the residual oxidizable carbon (ROC) (including e.g. lignite (brown coal), hard coal, charcoal, black carbon, soot) and the inorganic carbon (TIC900) which is released at temperatures up to 900 °C. The basis of this method is the dry combustion or decomposition of carbon to CO2 in the presence of oxygen or non-oxygen conditions using temperatures ranging from 150 °C to 900 °C in dry solid samples of sediment, soil, soil with anthropogenic admixtures and solid waste (see Table 1) with carbon contents of more than 1 g per kg (0,1 % C) (per carbon type in the test portion). NOTE TIC900’ includes the TIC measured after acid addition e.g. by ISO 10694 or EN 15936. TOC400 is a fraction of TOC measured according to e.g. ISO 10694 or EN 15936.

This document defines terms used in the field of soil quality.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the potential cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil buffered at pH = 8,1 and for the determination of the content of exchangeable sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in soil. This document is applicable to all types of air-dried soil samples.

This document specifies test procedures for the determination of effects of contaminated soils or other contaminated samples on the emergence of lettuce seeds. This document is applicable to contaminated soils, soil materials, compost, sludge and chemical testing. It is also applicable to the measurement of effects of substances deliberately added to the soil and to the comparison of soils of known and unknown quality. This document is not applicable for volatile contaminants.

This document provides requirements and guidance on key aspects of remediation techniques. It describes the principles, main characteristics, advantages and limitations to be considered in the selection within an option appraisal of individual or combinations of in situ and on-site remediation techniques, including: — the type of contaminants to be dealt with; — current and/or intended site use; — local legal, policy, socio-economic and environmental contexts. This document is applicable to the remediation of contaminated sites, i.e. where soil, or soil gas, ambient air or groundwater are contaminated. It identifies which phase/matrix can be targeted by a technique, e.g. fluid (groundwater, gas, non-aqueous phase liquid) or solid, and which contaminant it can applied to. This document also provides information on hazards that can be associated with the implementation of remediation. This document does not provide: — an exhaustive list of remediation techniques; — guidance on sites contaminated with radioactive substances, pathogenic or infectious agents, or “pyrotechnic devices” (e.g. unexploded ordnances); — guidance on ex situ techniques that are set up off-site; — a framework that covers all individual situations, or prescribes which technique(s) to use in a specific context.

This document specifies a method for sampling, extracting and preserving macro-invertebrates from soils, including the litter zone. The sampling and extraction methods in this document are applicable to almost all types of soil, with the exception of soils in extreme climatic conditions (hard, frozen or flooded soils) and matrices other than soil, e.g. tree trunks, plants or lichens.

This document specifies a method for testing the bioaccessibility of substances from contaminated soil and soil-like materials. The method is not applicable for volatile contaminants. Furthermore, the method is only applicable if suitable analytical methods for extraction and detection of substances and/or elements from complex digestion assays are available. NOTE During the in vivo validation with minipigs, the PAHs naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene and fluorene were not evaluated due to their volatility. However, the results of the overall recovery indicate if volatilisation has occurred during the test.

This document specifies a rapid method for assessing solid samples in an aerobic suspension, by determining the inhibition of dehydrogenase activity of Arthrobacter globiformis using the redox dye resazurin. It is applicable for assessing the effect of water-soluble and solid matter bounded non-volatile contaminants in natural samples, such as soils and waste materials. Although not the main purpose, the contact test can additionally be used for testing the effect of chemicals, as described in the Annex C. The test yields a result within 6 h and can therefore be used for screening potentially contaminated test material.

This document specifies a method for sampling, extracting and preserving collembolans and mites from field soils as a prerequisite for using these animals as bio-indicators (e.g. to assess the quality of a soil as a habitat for organisms). The sampling and extraction methods of this document are applicable to almost all types of soils. Exceptions can be soils from extreme climatic conditions (hard, frozen or flooded soils) and other matrices than soil, e.g. tree trunks, plants or lichens.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the following elements in aqua regia, nitric acid or mixture of hydrochloric (HCl), nitric (HNO3) and tetrafluoroboric (HBF4)/hydrofluoric (HF) acid digests of soil, treated biowaste, waste, sludge and sediment: Aluminium (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), cerium (Ce), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gallium (Ga), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf), holmium (Ho), indium (In), iridium (Ir), iron (Fe), lanthanum (La), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), lutetium (Lu) magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), neodymium (Nd), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), phosphorus (P), platinum (Pt), potassium (K), praseodymium (Pr), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), silver (Ag), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), tantalum (Ta), tellurium (Te), terbium (Tb), thallium (Tl), thulium (Tm), thorium (Th), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), vanadium (V), yttrium (Y), ytterbium (Yb), zinc (Zn) and zirconium (Zr). The method is also applicable to other extracts or digests originating from, for example, DTPA extraction, fusion methods or total digestion methods, provided the user has verified the applicability. The method has been validated for the elements given in Table A.1 (sludge), Table A.2 (compost) and Table A.3 (soil). The method is applicable for other solid matrices and other elements as listed above, provided the user has verified the applicability. This method is also applicable for the determination of major, minor and trace elements in aqua regia and nitric acid digests and in eluates of construction products (EN 17200[22]). NOTE Construction products include e.g. mineral-based products; bituminous products; metals; wood-based products; plastics and rubbers; sealants and adhesives; paints and coatings.

This document specifies a method for the determination of potential cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the content of exchangeable cations (Ca, K, Mg, Na) in soils using a molar ammonium acetate solution buffered at pH 7 as extractant. This document is applicable to all types of air-dry soil samples which have been prepared, for example, according to ISO 11464.

This document specifies a test with which in situ available concentrations of inorganic substances (such as heavy metals, arsenic and phosphorus) and organic substances in soil and soil-like materials can be simulated under forced aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The toxicity can then be estimated based on these available concentrations. The test described in this document aims to measure the release of inorganic and organic substances from soil and soil-like material as well as to produce eluates for subsequent ecotoxicological testing. For ecotoxicological testing, see ISO 15799 and ISO 17616. The eluate obtained can subsequently be characterized by physical, chemical and ecotoxicological methods in accordance with existing standard methods. The test is not suitable for substances that are volatile under ambient conditions. This procedure is not applicable to materials with a dry-matter-content ratio lower than 33 %. This test is mainly aimed at being used for routine and control purposes, and it cannot be used alone to describe all leaching properties of a soil. Additional leaching tests are needed for that extended goal. This document does not address issues related to health and safety. It only determines the leaching properties outlined in Clause 4.

This document specifies methods for quantitative determination of seven selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180) in soil, sludge, sediment, treated biowaste, and waste using GC-MS and GC-ECD (see Table 2). The limit of detection depends on the determinants, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract. Under the conditions specified in this document, lower limit of application from 1 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for soils, sludge and biowaste to 10 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for solid waste can be achieved. For some specific samples the limit of 10 μg/kg cannot be reached. Sludge, waste and treated biowaste may differ in properties, as well as in the expected contamination levels of PCB and presence of interfering substances. These differences make it impossible to describe one general procedure. This document contains decision tables based on the properties of the sample and the extraction and clean-up procedure to be used. NOTE The analysis of PCB in insulating liquids, petroleum products, used oils and aqueous samples is referred to in EN 61619, EN 12766-1 and ISO 6468 respectively. The method can be applied to the analysis of other PCB congeners not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.

This document provides specific requirements and recommendations on soil sampling and semi-quantitative measurements in field investigations for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are not explicitly covered in the existing ISO 18400 series. In addition, it provides information on the preparation steps (choosing a sampling strategy, defining a sampling plan); describes sampling techniques (drilling techniques, sampling devices and procedures) and field measurements; and gives advice on conservation, packaging, transport and delivery to the laboratory in the context of VOCs (see soil sampling process described in Figure 2). VOCs to which this document can be applied include: — volatile aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene; — aliphatic ethers such as methyl tert.-butyl ether(MTBE), ethyl tert.-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert.-amyl methyl ether (TAME); — volatile halogenated hydrocarbons such as tetrachloroethene and, trichloroethene. The document does not cover the volatile non-organic compounds. However, some information about these is provided in Annex D. This document provides requirements and guidance on the selection of drilling and sampling techniques for determining VOCs and how to use them. It clarifies the applicability and limits of the drilling and sampling techniques, taking into account the physical, chemical or biological reactions that can occur in soil. This document gives requirements and recommendations on the use of instrumental measurement techniques for determination of VOC concentrations in air, firstly in relation to worker safety, and subsequently for semi-quantitative measurements of volatiles during soil sampling. The following subjects are outside the scope of this document: — direct quantitative measurement of volatile compounds by field analysis laboratories; — investigations and evaluation of soil gas quality (these are dealt with ISO 18400 204); — safety risk assessment; and — analytical procedures.

This document specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining effects of soil contaminants and substances on the reproduction of Folsomia candida Willem by dermal and alimentary uptake. This document also provides information on how to use this method for testing substances under temperate conditions. The chronic test described is applicable to soils and soil materials of unknown quality, e.g. from contaminated sites, amended soils, soils after remediation, industrial, agricultural or other sites of concern and waste materials. The method is not applicable to volatile substances, i.e. substances for which H (Henry's constant) or the air/water partition coefficient is greater than 1, or for which the vapour pressure exceeds 300 Pa at 25 °C.

This document outlines methodologies for soil temperature measurement and provides guidance on the selection of a measurement method depending on measurement purposes. It also gives guidance on characteristics, performance and use of infrared (IR) thermometers which is now widely applied to obtain rapid measurements and thermistors which have been commonly used to obtain more accurate measurements.

This document specifies a method for determining of perchlorate in soil and soil-like materials using liquid chromatography connected to a tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). It defines pretreatment (including drying and sieving) of sample, extraction, clean-up, analysis using LC-MS/MS, and calculation of perchlorate content in dry soil. Under the conditions specified in this document, the limit of quantitation (LOQ) is approximately 4,6 μg/kg-dry soil.

This document specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining effects of soil contaminants and substances on the reproduction of Enchytraeus sp. by dermal and alimentary uptake in a chronic test. It is applicable to soils and soil materials of unknown quality, for example, from contaminated sites, amended soils, soils after remediation, agricultural or other sites under concern and waste materials. This document provides information on how to use this method for testing substances under temperate conditions. The method is not applicable to substances, for which the air/soil partition coefficient is greater than 1, or to substances for which the vapour pressure exceeds 300 Pa at 25 °C. NOTE No provision is made in the test method for monitoring the persistence of the substance under test.

This document specifies a method for quantitative determination of 17 2,3,7,8-chlorine substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in sludge, treated biowaste and soil using liquid column chromatographic clean-up methods and GC/HRMS. The analytes to be determined with this document are listed in Table 1. The limit of detection depends on the kind of sample, the congener, the equipment used and the quality of chemicals used for extraction and clean-up. Under the conditions specified in this document, limits of detection better than 1 ng/kg (expressed as dry matter) can be achieved. This method is “performance based”. The method can be modified if all performance criteria given in this method are met. NOTE In principle, this method can also be applied for sediments, mineral wastes and for vegetation. It is the responsibility of the user of this document to validate the application for these matrices. For measurement in complex matrices like fly ashes adsorbed on vegetation, it can be necessary to further improve the clean-up. This can also apply to sediments and mineral wastes.

This document specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining the effects of soil contaminants and chemicals on the reproduction of Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei by dermal and alimentary uptake. This chronic test is applicable to soils and soil materials of unknown quality, e.g. from contaminated sites, amended soils, soils after remediation, agricultural or other sites concerned, and waste materials. This method is designed mainly for determining the effects of soil contaminants and chemicals on the reproduction of Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei. Technical information is also provided on how to use Eisenia fetida/andrei for testing chemicals under tropical conditions (see Annex A). Finally, this method also includes technical information on how to use it with other environmentally relevant earthworm species: e.g. Dendrodrilus rubidus and Aporrectodea caliginosa (see Annexes B and C). This method does not apply to substances for which the air/soil partition coefficient is greater than one, or to substances with vapour pressure exceeding 300 Pa, at 25 °C. This method does not take into account the persistence of the substance during the test.

This document specifies a test procedure for the evaluation of the habitat function of soils by determining effects of soil contaminants and substances on organic matter decomposition. This test is applicable to natural soils and soil materials of unknown quality (e.g. contaminated sites, amended soils, soils after remediation, agricultural or other sites under concern). This document also specifies how to use this method for testing substances under temperate conditions. This document is not applicable to substances for which the air/soil partition coefficient is greater than 1. It is not applicable to substances with vapour pressure exceeding 300 Pa at 25 °C. NOTE The stability of the test substance cannot be ensured over the test period. No provision is made in the test method for monitoring the persistence of the substance under test.

This document aims to assist in designing and organizing trials for validation of biotests. The validation activities during the different steps of the standardization process are described. This document comprises the overall data evaluation and subsequent validation study conclusion. This document is intended for the validation of biotests which can differ in their experimental design and endpoints. It is possible that some of the requirements of this document are not applicable to all test methods.

This document specifies a method for sampling and handling free-living nematodes from terrestrial field soils as a prerequisite for using them as bio-indicators (e.g. to assess the quality of a soil as a habitat for organisms). This document applies to all terrestrial biotopes in which nematodes occur. The sampling design of field studies in general is specified in ISO 18400-101. This document is not applicable to aquatic nematodes because of differences in the sample matrix (e.g. water column). Methods for some other soil organism groups such as earthworms, collembolans enchytraeids or macro-invertebrates are covered in ISO 23611-1, ISO 23611-2, ISO 23611-3 and ISO 23611-5. This document does not cover the pedological characterization of the site which is highly recommendable when sampling soil invertebrates. ISO 10390, ISO 10694, ISO 11272, ISO 11274, ISO 11277, ISO 11461 and ISO 11465 include suitable procedures for measuring pH, particle size distribution, C/N ratio, organic carbon content and water-holding capacity.

This document provides a framework for the detailed assessment and monitoring of dynamic soil properties related to soil function with concomitant recording of in-situ static soil properties, landscape, land use and soil management practices that influence function at the time the data were collected. It is applicable to the assessment of soil quality in agricultural landscapes, contaminated sites and natural soil ecosystems at plot, field and landscape spatial scales. It can also be applied in the development of dynamic properties databases to enhance existing soil survey databases for estimation of carbon stocks in soils, sustainable agriculture, landscape management etc. Although the soil quality description framework has been developed to describe surface soils, the same principles can be applied to adapt the framework to describe subsurface soil horizons.

This document specifies a field method for the determination of soil redox potential (Eh). NOTE The electrochemical measurement of redox potential described in this document is possible only if the relevant soil horizon has a moisture status defined as fresh or wetter according to the classes presented in Annex D.

This document specifies a method for quantitative determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and semi-volatile chlorobenzenes in soil and sediment, using GC-MS and GC-ECD. The limit of detection and the limit of application depends on the determinants, the sample intake, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract. Under the conditions specified in this document, lower limits of application from 1 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for soils to 10 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for sediments can be achieved. The necessity to achieve these lower limits of application depends on the analyses order and the current limit values. Soils and sediments can differ in properties as well as in the expected contamination levels of OCPs and the presence of interfering substances. These differences make it impossible to describe one general procedure. Based on the properties of the samples, this document contains decision tables regarding drying-, extraction- and clean-up procedures. This method is performance based. The method can be modified if all performance criteria given in this method are met. The method can be applied to the analysis of other chlorinated compounds not specified in the scope in cases where suitability has been proven by proper in-house validation experiments. NOTE The validation data are shown in Annex A. This document is validated only for α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT. For sediments, data are displayed measured using an ECD detection. The comparability of ECD and MS data in terms of the approach of this document was demonstrated on additional matrices.

This document describes a method to assess the bioaccumulation of chemicals in snails, i.e. concentrations of metal(loid)s (ME) or organic compounds [e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)] accumulated in their tissues. This document presents how to prepare snails for caging in situ for 28 days, the in situ test design and then how to collect and prepare the snails until conservation and further analysis. If a kinetic study of accumulation is necessary, sampling of snails at different time-points during exposure is possible as well [13],[19],[22]. This document excludes analytical methods. Preparation (extraction and mineralization) of the samples and quantification of chemicals are not in the scope of the present document. The method is applicable for soils under different uses (agricultural, industrial, residential, forests, before and after remediation, on potentially contaminated sites, etc.) and waste materials [8],[10], preferably with vegetation and/or humus cover. The method is applicable subject to certain limits of temperature (frost-free period, i.e. mainly from April to October in temperate region). Optionally (see Annex I), the method can be used in the laboratory to evaluate the accumulation of contaminants [and optionally, the sum of excess of transfer (SET) index for ME, PAH, PCB] of snails exposed only to soil.

This document presents a method to quantify the soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in mineral soils at plot scale. It also provides guidance on how to detect and quantify simultaneously the variations of carbon and nitrogen stocks over time in mineral soils at field scale. It is based on several documents already published[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]. This document does not apply to organic soils, soils with permafrost, wetland soils, or to soil layers prone to submergence below the groundwater table. NOTE 1 The possibility of increasing soil C storage is viewed as a means to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Information on soil nitrogen (N) stocks is crucial because it interacts with carbon cycling through plant nutrition and organic matter decomposition, and leakage of N is of environmental concern (e.g. N2O emissions, NO3- leaching). Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to measure accurately the impact of changes of land uses and practices on organic carbon and nitrogen stocks. NOTE 2 While understanding changes in soil inorganic carbon it is important also to understand the land-atmosphere exchange of CO2, measuring stocks of soil inorganic carbon is outside the scope of this document.

This document specifies the measurement of explosives and related nitrocompounds (as given in Table 1) in soil and soil materials. This document is intended for the trace analysis of explosives and related compounds by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Generally, LC-MS/MS measurement shows the lower LOQ (limit of quantification) for each compound in Table 1 than using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-detection (see Annex B and Annex C). Under the conditions specified in this document, concentrations as low as 0,005 mg/kg to 0,014 mg/kg-dry matter can be determined, depending on the substance. Similar compounds, in particular various nitroaromatics, by-products and degradation products of explosive compounds can be analysed using this method provided that the applicability is checked on a case-by-case basis.

This document specifies a simple method for the extraction of only phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) from soils.

This document specifies the determination of Cr(VI) in solid waste material and soil by alkaline digestion and ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection. This method can be used to determine Cr(VI)-mass fractions in solids higher than 0,1 mg/kg. NOTE In case of reducing or oxidising waste matrix no valid Cr(VI) content can be reported.

This document provides guidance on the selection and application of screening methods for assessing soil quality and waste characterization, including distribution of target parameters in soil and soil‑like material. The aim of this document is to set up criteria as to when the different kind of screening methods can be applied for the analysis of a certain parameter in soil, including soil‑like material, and waste, and which steps are required to prove their suitability. This document does not recommend any particular screening method but confirms the principles of their selection and application.

This document specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of pH within the range pH 2 to pH 12 using a glass electrode in a 1:5 (volume fraction) suspension of soil, sludge and treated biowaste in either water (pH in H2O), in 1 mol/l potassium chloride solution (pH in KCl) or in 0,01 mol/l calcium chloride solution (pH in CaCl2). This document is applicable to all types of air-dried soil and treated biowaste samples. NOTE For example, pretreated in accordance with ISO 11464 or EN 16179 or EN 15002.

The present document specifies a method for direct extraction of DNA from soil samples to analyse the abundance and composition of microbial communities by various techniques of molecular biology including real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). This method is mainly dedicated to agricultural and forest soils. This method can possibly not be suitable for soils rich in organic matter (e.g. peat soils) or soils heavily polluted with organic pollutants or heavy metals. The direct extraction of DNA from soil samples provides unique insight into the α- and β-diversity of microbial communities. Next-generation sequencing of amplicons obtained by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification of soil DNA constitutes a promising domain which will in the near future contribute to the development of routine tools to monitor microbial communities in soil environments.

This document specifies two methods for digestion of soil, treated biowaste, sludge and waste by the use of an aqua regia digestion. Digestion with aqua regia will not necessarily accomplish total decomposition of the sample. The extracted analyte concentrations may not necessarily reflect the total content in the sample but represent the aqua regia soluble metals under the condition of this test procedure. It is generally agreed that for environmental analysis purposes, the results are fit for the intended purpose to protect the environment. This document is applicable for the following elements: Aluminium (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), tellurium (Te), thallium (Tl), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). This document can also be applied for the digestion of other elements, provided the user has verified the applicability.

This document specifies an extraction method to determine the bioavailable (potential and environmental available) fraction and the non-bioavailable fraction of a contaminant in soil using a "receiver phase" for an organic contaminant with strong sorbing or complexing properties, for example, Tenax®[1] or cyclodextrin, respectively. NOTE 1 The bioavailable fraction is defined in ISO 17402 as environmental bioavailability. The method is applicable for non-polar organic contaminants with an aqueous solubility of NOTE 2 The method is theoretically applicable to non-polar organic contaminants with an aqueous solubility of 1 000 mg/l. The method has been often applied for compounds with a much lower solubility (Kow > 3) and less for compounds with a higher solubility. The applicability is therefore defined for compounds with an aqueous solubility of [1] Tenax® is an example of a suitable product available commercially. This information is given for the convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of this product.

This document specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining effects of soil contaminants and individual chemical substances on the reproduction of the oribatid mite Oppia nitens by dermal and alimentary uptake. This chronic (28-day) test is applicable to soils and soil materials of unknown quality (e.g., contaminated sites, amended soils, soils after remediation, agricultural or other sites under concern and waste materials). This method is not intended to replace the earthworm or Collembola tests since it represents another taxonomic group (= mites; i.e., arachnids), nor the predatory mite test since this species represents a different trophic level and ecological niche. Effects of substances are assessed using standard soil, preferably a defined artificial soil substrate. For contaminated soils, the effects are determined in the test soil and in a control soil. According to the objective of the study, the control and dilution substrate (dilution series of contaminated soil) should be either an uncontaminated soil with similar properties to the soil sample to be tested (reference soil) or a standard soil (e.g., artificial soil). Information is provided on how to use this method for testing substances under temperate conditions. This document is not applicable to substances for which the air/soil partition coefficient is greater than 1, or to substances with vapour pressure exceeding 300 Pa at 25 °C. NOTE The stability of the test substance cannot be assured over the test period. No provision is made in the test method for monitoring the persistence of the substance under test.

This document specifies a basic method of determining the particle size distribution applicable to a wide range of mineral soil materials, including the mineral fraction of organic soils. It also offers procedures to deal with the less common soils mentioned in the introduction. This document has been developed largely for use in the field of environmental science, and its use in geotechnical investigations is something for which professional advice might be required. A major objective of this document is the determination of enough size fractions to enable the construction of a reliable particle-size-distribution curve. This document does not apply to the determination of the particle size distribution of the organic components of soil, i.e. the more or less fragile, partially decomposed, remains of plants and animals. It is also realized that the chemical pre-treatments and mechanical handling stages in this document could cause disintegration of weakly cohesive particles that, from field inspection, might be regarded as primary particles, even though such primary particles could be better described as aggregates. If such disintegration is undesirable, then this document is not used for the determination of the particle size distribution of such weakly cohesive materials.

This document provides guidance on the use of chemical methods establishing the bioavailability of trace elements in soil and soil-like materials and to stimulate the use of bioavailability in assessments. The methods themselves are not subject of this document.