Suomen ympäristökeskus

 

This document gives an overview and provides guidance on the main methods available to quantify the exchanges of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4) and ammonia (NH3) between soils and the atmosphere. It is intended to help users to select the measurement method or methods most suited to their purposes by setting out information on the application domain and the main advantages and limitations of each methods.

 

This document specifies the general requirements for the in vitro amplification of nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA). This includes polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods like quantitative PCR, qualitative PCR, reverse transcription-PCR and digital PCR. The minimum requirements laid down in this document are intended to ensure that comparable and reproducible results are obtained in different organizations. It covers quality assurance aspects to be considered when working with PCR-based methods in a laboratory as well as validation and verification. In addition to laboratory PCR-based methods, this document is also applicable to on-site PCR-based methods. This document is applicable to PCR-based methods used for the analysis of microorganisms and viruses in different water matrices, including but not limited to: — drinking water; — groundwater; — pool water; — process water; — surface water; — wastewater. This document is applicable to the detection and quantification of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) of microorganisms by PCR-based methods in water such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi but also parasites such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, amoebas and multicellular organisms. In addition, this document is applicable to the detection and quantification of nucleic acids from viruses in water by PCR-based methods. NOTE In the context of this document, viruses are considered to be microorganisms. Clauses in this document can also specifically apply to viruses and not to other types of microorganisms. In these clauses, viruses are mentioned separately.

 

ISO 22032:2006 specifies a method for the determination of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in sediment and sludge using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) or negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) mode. When using GC-EI-MS, the method is applicable to samples containing 0,05 to 25 micrograms per kilogram of tetra- to octabromo congeners and 0,3 to 100 micrograms per kilogram of decabromo diphenyl ether (BDE-209), respectively.

 

This document is applicable to lakes, which are water bodies occupying one or more basins with surface areas typically greater than 1 ha (0,01 km2) and maximum depths (at mean water level) greater than 1 m. All types of permanent and temporary lakes, including natural, modified and artificial, freshwater and brackish, except for those systems which regularly connect to the sea, are included in this document. Based on these criteria, it can be estimated that there are at least 500 000 natural lakes across Europe, most of which are located in the glaciated landscapes in northern and western provinces and in Scandinavia. Lakeland districts also occur locally in areas such as large river catchments (e.g. the Danubian plain) and around the Alps. Elsewhere, naturally occurring lakes are relatively sparse and in such areas reservoirs or pits are more common. This document is designed to: a) support environmental and conservation agencies in meeting the monitoring requirements of the WFD (Article 8, Annex II and Annex V); b) generate data sets appropriate for monitoring and reporting of Natura 2000 sites designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive; c) provide information supporting other environmental reporting requirements (e.g. in relation to biodiversity or environmental impact assessment); d) support lake management and restoration initiatives. This document: e) defines the key term of ‘hydromorphology’ and other terms relating to the morphological characteristics of lakes and their hydrological regimes; f) details essential features and processes of lakes that should be characterized as part of a hydromorphological survey and for determining the hydromorphological condition of a lake; g) identifies and defines the key pressures affecting European lakes; h) provides guidance on strategies for collecting hydromorphological data depending on resources available and the anticipated use of the assessment; a hierarchy of approaches is recognized from the ‘overview method’ utilizing existing databases, maps and remote sensing data through to recognized field-based survey techniques such as Lake Habitat Survey (LHS) [3]; i) offers guidance on data presentation; j) establishes guidance on data quality assurance issues. This document does not deal with biological assessments in lakes such as the presence or absence of individual species or community composition, nor does it attempt to link specific hydromorphological features with their associated biological communities or to create a classification based on such links. However, it is relevant where plants or other organisms form significant structural elements of the habitat (e.g. a gradation from riparian to littoral vegetation). With respect to the WFD, the hydromorphological condition of a lake only contributes to its status classification at high ecological status (HES). Hydromorphological conditions are not defined for good and moderate status but shall be sufficient to support the biological elements. However, some countries are now beginning to classify lakes according to their hydromorphology. The information gathered by using this standard can provide a basis for classification, but this classification is the subject of EN 16870 and not EN 16039.

 

ISO 19204:2017 describes in a general way the application of the soil quality TRIAD approach for the site-specific ecological risk assessment of contaminated soils. In detail, it presents in a transparent way three lines of evidence (chemistry, ecotoxicology and ecology) which together allow an efficient, ecologically robust but also practical risk assessment of contaminated soils. This procedure can also be applicable to other stress factors, such as acidification, soil compaction, salinization, loss of soil organic substance, and erosion. However, so far, no experience has been gained with these other applications. Therefore, this document focuses on soils contaminated by chemicals. NOTE 1 This document focuses on ecological risk assessment. Thus, it does not cover human health end points. In view of the nature of this document, the investigation procedure is described on a general level. It does not contain details of technical procedures for the actual assessment. However, this document includes references relating to technical standards (e.g. ISO 15799, ISO 17616) which are useful for the actual performance of the three lines of evidence. In ecological risk assessment, the effects of soil contamination on the ecosystem are related to the intended land use and the requirements that this use sets for properly functioning soil. This document describes the basic steps relating to a coherent tool for a site-specific risk assessment with opportunities to work out site-specific details. ISO 19204:2017 can also be used for the evaluation of clean-up operations, remediation processes or management measures (i.e. for the evaluation of the environmental quality after having performed such actions). NOTE 2 This document starts when it has already been decided that an ecological risk assessment at a given site needs to be performed. In other words, the practical performance of the soil quality TRIAD and the evaluation of the individual test results will be described. Thus, nothing will be said about decisions whether (and if yes, how) the results of the assessment are included in soil management measures or not. NOTE 3 The TRIAD approach can be used for different parts of the environment, but this document focuses mostly on the soil compartment. Comparable documents for other environmental compartments are intended to be prepared in addition (e.g. the terrestrial aboveground compartment) in order to perform a complete site assessment, based on the same principles and processes.

 

This document describes in a general way the application of the soil quality TRIAD approach for the site-specific ecological risk assessment of contaminated soils. In detail, it presents in a transparent way three lines of evidence (chemistry, ecotoxicology and ecology) which together allow an efficient, ecologically robust but also practical risk assessment of contaminated soils. This procedure can also be applicable to other stress factors, such as acidification, soil compaction, salinization, loss of soil organic substance, and erosion. However, so far, no experience has been gained with these other applications. Therefore, this document focuses on soils contaminated by chemicals. NOTE 1 This document focuses on ecological risk assessment. Thus, it does not cover human health end points. In view of the nature of this document, the investigation procedure is described on a general level. It does not contain details of technical procedures for the actual assessment. However, this document includes references relating to technical standards (e.g. ISO 15799, ISO 17616) which are useful for the actual performance of the three lines of evidence. In ecological risk assessment, the effects of soil contamination on the ecosystem are related to the intended land use and the requirements that this use sets for properly functioning soil. This document describes the basic steps relating to a coherent tool for a site-specific risk assessment with opportunities to work out site-specific details. This document can also be used for the evaluation of clean-up operations, remediation processes or management measures (i.e. for the evaluation of the environmental quality after having performed such actions). NOTE 2 The application of this document starts when it has already been decided that an ecological risk assessment at a given site needs to be performed. In other words, the practical performance of the soil quality TRIAD and the evaluation of the individual test results will be described. Thus, nothing will be said about decisions whether (and if yes, how) the results of the assessment are included in soil management measures or not. NOTE 3 The TRIAD approach can be used for different parts of the environment, but this document focuses mostly on the soil compartment. Comparable documents for other environmental compartments are intended to be prepared in addition (e.g. the terrestrial aboveground compartment) in order to perform a complete site assessment, based on the same principles and processes.

 

This document specifies methods used to determine the concentration of plutonium and neptunium isotopes in water by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu and 237Np). The concentrations obtained can be converted into activity concentrations of the different isotopes[9]. Due to its relatively short half-life and 238U isobaric interference, 238Pu can hardly be measured by this method. To quantify this isotope, other techniques can be used (ICP-MS with collision-reaction cell, ICP-MS/MS with collision-reaction cell or chemical separation). Alpha spectrometry measurement, as described in ISO 13167[10], is currently used[11]. This method is applicable to all types of water having a saline load less than 1 g·l-1. A dilution of the sample is possible to obtain a solution having a saline load and activity concentrations compatible with the preparation and the measurement assembly. A filtration at 0,45 µm is needed for determination of dissolved nuclides. Acidification and chemical separation of the sample are always needed. The limit of quantification depends on the chemical separation and the performance of the measurement device. This method covers the measurement of those isotopes in water in activity concentrations between around[12][13]: — 1 mBq·l-1 to 5 Bq·l-1 for 239Pu, 240Pu and 237Np; — 1 Bq·l-1 to 5 Bq·l-1 for 241Pu. In both cases, samples with higher activity concentrations than 5 Bq·l-1 can be measured if a dilution is performed before the chemical separation. It is possible to measure 241Pu following a pre-concentration step of at least 1 000.