Suomen ympäristökeskus

 

This document provides a generic description of the methods available for measuring soil characteristics and indicators of core ecological soil functions. No distinction of context is made, i.e. no differentiation of land use and management (e.g agricultural, forest, urban, natural or contaminated lands). For each ecological soil function, the document specifically lists biotic and abiotic characteristics that can be measured. It focuses on characteristics and indicators that are either available as ISO documents or published in peer-reviewed papers. This document applies to ecological soil functions and is not applied to soil functions such as geotechnical functions (foundation support for buildings, tunnels, etc.) or geothermal functions. Indeed, ecosystem services do not address soils without a topsoil, or with a covered topsoil (buildings, infrastructure, greenhouse farming, solar panel parks). Methods and indicators for ecological soil functions can help in the assessment of soil-related ecosystem services but the overall assessment of ecosystem services is not covered in this document. Other methods based on proxy indicators (e.g. soil occupation, hydrography parameters) can also be used for land planning at large scale. These indicators are not included in this document.

 

This document describes a highly specific method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water. The method is based on membrane filtration, subsequent culture at 44 °C on a chromogenic agar medium containing a chromogenic ingredient for the detection of the enzyme ß-glucuronidase, and calculation of the number of target organisms in the sample. Because of the high specificity of the method, this document is suitable for waters with high levels of background bacteria, such as surface waters including bathing water and wastewater. E. coli strains which do not grow at 44 °C and those that are ß-glucuronidase negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected as E. coli by this method.

 

This document specifies a test method for the determination of gross beta activity concentration in non-saline waters. The method covers non-volatile radionuclides with maximum beta energies of approximately 0,3 MeV or higher. Measurement of low energy beta emitters (e.g. 3H, 228Ra, 210Pb, 14C, 35S and 241Pu) and some gaseous or volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) might not be included in the gross beta quantification using the test method described in this document. This test method is applicable to the analysis of raw and drinking waters. The range of application depends on the amount of total soluble salts in the water and on the performance characteristics (background count rate and counting efficiency) of the counter used. It is the laboratory's responsibility to ensure the suitability of this method for the water samples tested.

 

This document describes a highly specific method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water. The method is based on membrane filtration followed by culture at 44 °C on chromogenic agar medium containing an ingredient for the detection of the enzyme ß-glucuronidase, and calculation of the number of target organisms in the sample[5,6,13]. Because of the high specificity of the method, this document is suitable for waters with high levels of background bacteria, such as surface waters including bathing water and wastewater provided that they contain little particulate or colloidal matter relative to the E. coli concentration. The method can be used for fresh water and, with an adaptation, for marine water. E. coli strains which do not grow at 44 °C and those that are ß-glucuronidase negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected as E. coli by this method. This method is not applicable to the enumeration and detection of coliform bacteria other than E. coli.

 

This document specifies the measurement method for the determination of total activity concentration of uranium isotopes in non-saline waters by extraction and liquid scintillation counting. This method covers the measurement of soluble uranium isotopes in water in activity concentrations between approximately 2·10-3 Bq/kg and 10 Bq/kg when analysing a 1 l test sample volume with a 60 000 s counting time with a typical alpha LSC instrument. The ratio 234U/238U can also be determined. This method has not been tested for the measurement of other uranium isotopes.

 

This document gives guidance for pro-rata multi-habitat sampling of benthic macroinvertebrates in rivers and streams. The term "pro-rata" reflects the intention to sample all the main riverine habitats present at a monitoring site according to the proportion of the site that it covers. It is an objective way to divide sampling effort among the different habitats. This document is applicable to all flowing waters, both artificial, modified and natural. It enables comparable samples to be collected from any type of river, regardless of the habitats present. This document gives guidance on an overall approach rather than a specific method. This document is applicable to: - supporting environmental and conservation agencies, water boards, and water agencies to meet the monitoring requirements of the WFD (Article 8, Annex II, and Annex V) [1]; - generating data sets appropriate for monitoring and reporting of sites designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive to ensure that samples for comparing the overall composition of invertebrates from different stream types are comparable; - ensuring samples for environmental quality assessments across different stream types are comparable even when sampled by different people; - supporting river management and restoration initiatives; - sampling sites in a consistent way that is not dependent on the presence of particular types of habitat; a user-friendly strategy for collecting biological data depending on the distribution of habitats; - understanding the distribution of biological community types across different physical river types; and - assessing quality based on deviation from reference, as adopted in the European Water Framework Directive [1].

 

This document specifies a test method for the determination of gross beta activity concentration in non-saline waters. The method covers non-volatile radionuclides with maximum beta energies of approximately 0,3 MeV or higher. Measurement of low-energy beta emitters (e.g. 3H, 228Ra, 210Pb, 14C, 35S and 241Pu) and some gaseous or volatile radionuclides (e.g. radon and radioiodine) are not be included in the gross beta quantification using the test method described in this document. This test method is applicable to the analysis of raw and drinking waters with low amounts of total soluble salts in the water. Limit of detection depends on the performance characteristics (background count rate and counting efficiency) of the counter used. It is the laboratory’s responsibility to ensure the suitability of this method for the water samples tested. As this method requires sample preparation in laboratory facilities, it is not suited for rapid, in-the-field analysis.

 

This document sets out the general principles for, and provides guidance on, the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques for all aspects of sampling of water (including waste waters, sludges, effluents, suspended solids and sediments). This document does not include detailed instructions for specific sampling situations, which are covered in various other parts of the ISO 5667 series and in ISO 19458.

 

This document sets out the general principles for, and provides guidance on, the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques for all aspects of sampling of water (including waste waters, sludges, effluents, suspended solids and sediments). This document does not include detailed instructions for specific sampling instructions, which are covered in various other parts of the ISO 5667 series and in ISO 19458 [1].

 

This document specifies a chronic test method for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining effects of soil contaminants and substances on the reproduction of Hypoaspis (Gaeolaelaps) aculeifer. This method 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 under concern and waste materials (e.g. dredged material, municipal sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, composed material, or manure, especially those for possible land disposal). The reproduction (= number of juveniles) is the measured parameter of the test. The test reflects the bioavailability of a mixture of contaminants in natural soils (contaminated site soils) to a species which represents a trophic level which is not covered by other ISO standards. This test is not intended to replace the earthworm (see ISO 11268-2[2]) or Collembola (see ISO 11267[1]) reproduction tests since this species belongs not only to a different trophic group but also a different taxonomic group (= mites; i.e. arachnids) than those used usually. Effects of substances are assessed using a standard soil, preferably a defined artificial soil substrate. For contaminated soils, the effects are determined in the soil to be tested and in a control soil. Depending on the objective of the study, the control and dilution substrate (dilution series of contaminated soil or waste material) are either an uncontaminated soil comparable to the soil to be tested (reference soil) or a standard soil (e.g. artificial soil). This document provides information on how to use this method for testing samples (soils or substances) under temperate conditions. This document is not applicable 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. 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 is one of a family of International Standards providing guidance on soils and soil materials in relation to certain functions and uses including conservation of biodiversity. It applies in conjunction with these other standards. It provides guidance on the selection of experimental methods for the assessment of the ecotoxic potential of soils and soil materials (e.g. excavated and remediated soils, refills, embankments) with respect to their intended use and possible adverse effects on aquatic and soil dwelling organisms. NOTE This is a reflection of the maintenance of the habitat and retention function of the soil. In fact, the methods listed in this document are suitable for usage in a TRIAD approach, i.e. for an ecological assessment of potentially contaminated soils (see Reference [18]). This document does not cover tests for bioaccumulation. The ecological assessment of uncontaminated soils with a view to natural, agricultural or horticultural use is not within the scope of this document. Such soils can be of interest if they can serve as a reference for the assessment of soils from contaminated sites (see References [29], [30] and [33]). The interpretation of results gained by applying the proposed methods is not in the scope of this document.

 

This document specifies a chronic test method for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining effects of soil contaminants and substances on the reproduction of Hypoaspis aculeifer by ? mainly ? alimentary uptake. This method 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 under concern and waste materials (e.g. dredged material, municipal sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, composed material, or manure, especially those for possible land disposal). The reproduction (= number of juveniles) is the measured parameter of the test. The test reflects the bioavailability of a mixture of contaminants in natural soils (contaminated site soils) to a species which represents a trophic level which is not covered by other ISO standards. This test is not intended to replace the earthworm (see ISO 11268-2) or Collembola (see ISO 11267) reproduction tests since this species belongs not only to a different trophic group but also a different taxonomic group (= mites; i.e. arachnids) than those used usually. Effects of substances are assessed using a standard soil, preferably a defined artificial soil substrate. For contaminated soils, the effects are determined in the soil to be tested and in a control soil. Depending on the objective of the study, the control and dilution substrate (dilution series of contaminated soil) are either an uncontaminated soil comparable to the soil to be tested (reference soil) or a standard soil (e.g. artificial soil). This document provides information on how to use this method for testing samples (soils or substances) under temperate conditions. This document is not applicable 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. 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 is one of a family of International Standards providing guidance on soils and soil materials in relation to certain functions and uses including conservation of biodiversity. It applies in conjunction with these other standards. It provides guidance on the selection of experimental methods for the assessment of the ecotoxic potential of soils and soil materials (e.g. excavated and remediated soils, refills, embankments) with respect to their intended use and possible adverse effects on aquatic and soil dwelling organisms. NOTE This is a reflection of the maintenance of the habitat and retention function of the soil. In fact, the methods listed in this document are suitable for usage in a TRIAD approach, i.e. for an ecological assessment of potentially contaminated soils (see ISO 19204). This document does not cover tests for bioaccumulation. The ecological assessment of uncontaminated soils with a view to natural, agricultural or horticultural use is not within the scope of this document. Such soils can be of interest if they can serve as a reference for the assessment of soils from contaminated sites. The interpretation of results gained by applying the proposed methods is not in the scope of this document.