Suomen ympäristökeskus

 

This document specifies a method for the determination of gross alpha and gross beta activity concentration for alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The method is applicable to all types of waters with a dry residue of less than 5 g/l and when no correction for colour quenching is necessary. Gross alpha and gross beta activity measurement is not intended to give an absolute determination of the activity concentration of all alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in a test sample, but is a screening analysis to ensure particular reference levels of specific alpha and beta emitters have not been exceeded. This type of determination is also known as gross alpha and beta index. Gross alpha and beta analysis is not expected to be as accurate nor as precise as specific radionuclide analysis after radiochemical separations. The method covers non-volatile radionuclides below 80 °C, since some gaseous or volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) can be lost during the source preparation. The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rain water, surface and ground water as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial waste water after proper sampling and test sample preparation (filtration when necessary and taking into account the amount of dissolved material in the water). The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation, because the results can be obtained in less than 4 h by directly measuring water test samples without any treatment. It is the laboratory's responsibility to ensure the suitability of this test method for the water samples tested.

 

This document specifies a method for the determination of gross alpha and gross beta activity concentration for alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides. Gross alpha and gross beta activity measurement is not intended to give an absolute determination of the activity concentration of all alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in a test sample, but is a screening analysis to ensure particular reference levels of specific alpha and beta emitters have not been exceeded. This type of determination is also known as gross alpha and gross beta index. Gross alpha and gross beta analysis is not expected to be as accurate nor as precise as specific radionuclide analysis after radiochemical separations. Maximum beta energies of approximately 0,1 MeV or higher are well measured. It is possible that low energy beta emitters cannot be detected (e.g. 3H, 55Fe, 241Pu) or can only be partially detected (e.g. 14C, 35S, 63Ni, 210Pb, 228Ra). The method covers non-volatile radionuclides, since some gaseous or volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) can be lost during the source preparation. The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial wastewater after proper sampling, sample handling, and test sample preparation (filtration when necessary and taking into account the amount of dissolved material in the water). The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation, because the results can be obtained in less than 1 h. Detection limits reached for gross alpha and gross beta are less than 10 Bq·l-1 and 20 Bq·l-1 respectively. The evaporation of 10 ml sample is carried out in 20 min followed by 10 min counting with window-proportional counters. It is the laboratory’s responsibility to ensure the suitability of this test method for the water samples tested.

 

This document specifies a method to measure gross alpha and gross beta activity concentration for alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides using Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC). The method is applicable to all types of waters with a dry residue of less than 5 g·l-1and when no correction for colour quenching is necessary. The method is applicable to test samples non-saline waters following proper sampling, handling and preparation. Gross alpha and beta measurements do not provide the exact radioactive content of a sample but estimate activity based on standard calibration sources. These measurements, known as the alpha and beta index, serve as screening tools for an initial assessment of total radioactivity. The method covers non-volatile radionuclides below 80 °C, since some gaseous or volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) can be lost during the source preparation. The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rain water, surface and ground water as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial waste water after proper sampling and test sample preparation (filtration when necessary and taking into account the amount of dissolved material in the water). The detection limit depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency and the counting time. The detection limit of the method described in this document, using currently available liquid scintillation apparatus, is approximately 20 mBq·kg-1(a) and 100 mBq·kg-1(ß), which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water 500 mBq·kg-1(a) and 1 000 mBq·kg-1(ß).[4] This value can typically be achieved with a counting time of 500 min for a test sample volume of 0,08 l. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation, because the results can be obtained in less than 4 h by directly measuring water test samples without any treatment.

 

This document provides standard procedures for the collection, handling and storage of soil for subsequent biological testing under aerobic conditions in the laboratory. It applies to the collection, handling and storage for assessing the effects of soil on microorganisms, invertebrates (e.g. survival, reproduction, growth, behaviour) and plants (e.g. development, growth). This document is not applicable to the handling of soil where anaerobic conditions need to be maintained throughout. This document describes how to minimize the effects of differences in temperature, water content, and availability of oxygen on aerobic processes as well as the fractionation of soil particles to facilitate reproducible laboratory determinations[1][2]. This document is mainly applicable to temperate soils. Soils collected from extreme climates (e.g. permafrost, tropical soils) can require special handling.

 

This document specifies requirements for the selection, installation, qualification, and operation of continuous measuring devices (CMDs). The overall objective is to obtain representative and reliable measurements when using CMDs to monitor water quality. This document applies to continuous measuring devices for monitoring physical and chemical parameters in different types of water.

 

This document provides guidance on toxicological evaluation, classification, sampling methodologies, and determination methods of sludge/biosolids for land application, and suitable land application pathways:

 

This document provides definitions, descriptions and a framework for the assessment of ecological soil functions and of related ecosystem services, based on a review of existing documents. It describes the main characteristics of key ecological soil functions and how they relate to soil characteristics and to ecosystem services. This document does not cover non-ecological soil functions, e.g. the support of infrastructures and archives, the provision of raw material.

 

Specifies a method for the determination of the total carbon content in soil after dry combustion. The organic carbon content is calculated from this content after correcting for carbonates present in the sample. If carbonates are removed beforehand, the organic carbon content is measured directly. Applicable to all types of air-dried soil samples.

 

This document specifies two methods for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) in sludge, treated biowaste, soil and waste samples containing more than 0,1 % carbon in relation to the dry matter (dm). This document is validated for several types of matrices as indicated in Table 1 (see also Annex A for the results of the validation). The results in this document are expressed in % C in relation to the dry matter (dm).

 

This document defines individual concepts that together provide a framework for a vocabulary common to different stakeholders with interests in municipal wastewater sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal. It is intended to facilitate common understanding and communication on undertaking such activities. The following are within the scope of this document:

 

This document specifies a method for quantitative determination of various perfluorinated hydrocarbons by means of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry in soil, sludge, sediment and waste (see Table 1). For many substances to which this document applies a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0,1 to 10 µg/kgdm can be achieved. See also Annex D for more information regarding the LOQ’s reachable. The method can be applied to the analysis of additional PFAS not specified in the scope, if validity is proven by proper in-house validation protocols, particularly for volatile compounds that may be lost during preparation. For each target compound all, branched and non-branched are quantified together. In this method the amount of linear and branched PFAS is quantified using the response factor of the linear PFAS in the calibration standard and the total area of the linear and branched PFAS (Annex C gives more explanation). Alternatively, the linear isomer and sum of branched isomers may be quantified separately and the sum of both can be calculated provided a complete separation of the linear isomer from the branched isomers is obtained. All compounds of Table 1 were tested during an international inter laboratory trial in Europe in the period December 2023 to April 2024. The table specifies for which the criteria of an interlaboratory standard deviation (CVR) of 50 % was not reached. See Annex D for more details. The validity of the procedure has been proven for soil, sediment and sludge samples and for a selection of waste samples. For other waste types than mentioned in Annex D the laboratory shall validate the suitability of the procedure of this standard.

 

This document specifies a method for quantitative determination of various perfluorinated hydrocarbons by means of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry in soil, sludge, sediment and waste (see Table 1). For many substances to which this document applies a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.1 to 10 µg/kgdm can be achieved. The method can be applied to the analysis of additional PFAS not specified in the scope, if validity is proven by proper in-house validation protocols. For each target compound both, eventually occurring branched, isomers and the respective non-branched isomer are quantified together. In this method the amount of linear and branched PFAS is quantified using the response factor of the linear PFAS in the calibration standard and the total area of the linear and branched PFAS (Annex 1 gives more explanation)