Suomen ympäristökeskus

 

WARNING Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practices. This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of any other restrictions. IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this document be carried out by suitably trained staff. This document specifies methods to determine 99Tc by liquid scintillation counting (LSC) in water supplies, drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water, marine water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic, and industrial wastewater after proper sampling, handling, and test sample preparation. The detection limit depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency, the counting time, and the chemical yield. The minimum detectable activity of the methods described in this document, using currently available LSC apparatus, is approximately 5 Bq·l-1 to 20 Bq·l-1, which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water (100 Bq·l-1).[4] These values can be achieved with a counting time of 60 min for a sample volume varying between 14 ml to 40 ml. The method presented in this document is not intended for the determination of ultra-trace activity concentrations of 99Tc. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation, but not if 99mTc is present at quantities that could cause interference and not if 99mTc is used as a recovery tracer. Filtration of the test sample is necessary for the methods described in this document if suspended solids are present as the methods presented in this document can only be used to determine soluble 99Tc. The analysis of 99Tc adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method. The analysis of the insoluble fraction requires a mineralization step that is not covered by this document. In this case, the measurement is made on the different phases obtained. The final activity is the sum of all the measured activity concentrations. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for the water samples tested.

 

ISO 9308-2:2012 specifies a method for the enumeration of E. coli and coliform bacteria in water. The method is based on the growth of target organisms in a liquid medium and calculation of the "Most Probable Number" (MPN) of organisms by reference to MPN tables. This method can be applied to all types of water, including those containing an appreciable amount of suspended matter and high background counts of heterotrophic bacteria. However it must not be used for the enumeration of coliform bacteria in marine water. When using for the enumeration of E. coli in marine waters, a 1?10 dilution in sterile water is typically required, although the method has been shown to work well with some marine waters that have a lower than normal concentration of salts. In the absence of data to support the use of the method without dilution, a 1?10 dilution is used. This method relies upon the detection of E. coli based upon expression of the enzyme b-D-glucuronidase and consequently does not detect many of the enterohaemorhagic strains of E. coli, which do not typically express this enzyme. Additionally, there are a small number of other E. coli strains that do not express b-D-glucuronidase. The choice of tests used in the detection and confirmation of the coliform group of bacteria, including E. coli, can be regarded as part of a continuous sequence. The extent of confirmation with a particular sample depends partly on the nature of the water and partly on the reasons for the examination. The test described in ISO 9308-2:2012 provides a confirmed result with no requirement for further confirmation of positive wells.

 

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of E. coli and coliform bacteria in water. The method is based on the growth of target organisms in a liquid medium and calculation of the “Most Probable Number” (MPN) of organisms by reference to MPN tables or by use of appropriate formulae 1]. This method can be applied to a range of types of water (for example drinking water, groundwater, surface water, recreational water and wastewater),[2-5] including those containing a considerable amount of suspended matter and high background counts of heterotrophic bacteria. Users should satisfy themselves that any product used has been validated for its intended use (e.g. chlorinated drinking water) and should generate performance characteristics using ISO13843.[6] Performance characteristic data generated prior to 2017 using ISO TR 13843[7] is also acceptable. If a water sample has some background colour, the incubated sample should be compared to a blank control of the same water sample This method relies upon the detection of E. coli based upon expression of the enzyme ß-D-glucuronidase and consequently does not detect some enteropathogenic strains of E. coli, which do not typically express this enzyme. Additionally, there are a small number of other E. coli strains that do not express ß-D-glucuronidase. As they are ß-D-galactosidase positive, they will appear as coliform bacteria.

 

ISO 13164-1:2013 gives general guidelines for sampling, packaging, and transporting of all kinds of water samples, for the measurement of the activity concentration of radon-222. The test methods fall into two categories: a) direct measurement of the water sample without any transfer of phase (see ISO 13164-2); b) indirect measurement involving the transfer of the radon-222 from the aqueous phase to another phase (see ISO 13164-3). The test methods can be applied either in the laboratory or on site. The laboratory is responsible for ensuring the suitability of the test method for the water samples tested.

 

ISO 13164-3:2013 specifies a test method for the determination of radon-222 activity concentration in a sample of water following its transfer from the aqueous phase to the air phase by degassing and its detection. It gives recommendations for rapid measurements performed within less than 1 h. The radon-222 activity concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently available instruments, range from 0,1 Bq l-1 to several hundred thousand becquerels per litre for a 100 ml test sample. This test method is used successfully with drinking water samples. The laboratory is responsible for ensuring the validity of this test method for water samples of untested matrices. This test method can be applied on field sites or in the laboratory. Annexes A and B give indications on the necessary counting conditions to meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring

 

This document describes a set of biochemical parameters allowing the measurement of sublethal effects in higher plants exposed to soil pollutants and other stressors (e.g. drought, nutrient availability, heat stress). This document is applicable to soils of unknown quality (e.g. from contaminated sites, amended soils or soils after remediation), following laboratory exposure assays. This document specifies methods for measuring antioxidant defence enzyme activities that indicate stress symptoms in the leaves of lettuce and higher plants, either monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous species.

 

This document describes a set of physiological parameters allowing the measurement of sublethal effects in higher plants exposed to soil pollutants and other stressors (e.g. drought, nutrient availability, heat stress). It is applicable to soils of unknown quality (e.g. from contaminated sites, amended soils or soils after remediation), either in situ or following laboratory exposure assays. This document specifies the methods for analysing variations in physiological responses and oxidative damage that can be indicative of stress symptoms in the leaves of higher plants, either monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous species.

 

This part of ISO 13164 specifies a test method for the determination of 222Rn activity concentration in a sample of water following its transfer from the aqueous phase to the gas phase by degassing and its detection. It gives recommendations for rapid measurements performed within less than 1 h. The 222Rn activity concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently available instruments, range from 0,1 Bq·l-1 to several hundred thousand becquerels per litre for a 100 ml test sample. This test method is used successfully with drinking water samples. The laboratory is responsible for ensuring the validity of this test method for water samples of untested matrices. This test method can be applied on field sites or in the laboratory.

 

This part of ISO 13164 gives general guidelines for sampling, packaging, and transporting of all kinds of water samples, for the measurement of the activity concentration of 222Rn. The test methods fall into two categories: a) direct measurement of the water sample without any transfer of phase (see ISO 13164-2[7]); b) indirect measurement involving the transfer of the 222Rn from the aqueous phase to another phase (see ISO 13164-3[8] and 13164-4[9]). The test methods can be applied either in the laboratory or on-site. The laboratory is responsible for ensuring the suitability of the test method for the water samples tested.

 

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of culturable microorganisms in water by counting colonies on a low-nutrient agar culture medium by spread plate inoculation after incubation at 22 °C for 7 days. This document is applicable to: — water from the treatment process of public drinking water supplies (e.g. process water in the waterworks); — chlorinated and non-chlorinated tap water in distribution systems and containers; — bottled water; — well water intended for human consumption. For detailed information on the performance characteristics, see Annex B. This document can be applied to other water matrices if the appropriate validation of performance of this method has been undertaken by the laboratory prior to use.

 

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of culturable microorganisms in water by counting the colonies on a low-nutrient agar culture medium after incubation at 22 °C for 7 d. The method is intended to measure the operational efficiency of the treatment process of public drinking water supplies, including the water in distribution systems and containers. The method is particularly suitable to monitor water for human consumption which is low in nutrients and is distributed in temperatures below 20 °C. The method can be applied to all types of water, including pool and spa waters. NOTE 1 The low-nutrient agar in use in this document usually gives higher colony counts from water samples than nutrient-rich formulations of culture media typically used for enumeration of culturable microorganisms. NOTE 2 The method is also applicable for waters of very low nutrient content such as de-ionised, distilled or reverse osmosis waters. NOTE 3 This document describes the use of R2A medium. There are other formulations available, e.g. R3A medium that might be suitable for certain applications but go beyond the scope of this document.

 

To determine liquid flow, the following steps are necessary: 1) Measure water surface velocity with techniques using radar, laser or video images; 2) Correct the water surface velocity due to wind effects if necessary; 3) Option a: Transform the corrected velocity to a depth-averaged velocity in one segment using the arithmetic methods referring to chapter 7.2, secondly calculate each segment and then create the sum of all segments to obtain the cross-sectional averaged velocity distribution; 3) Option b: Transform the corrected velocity to a cross sectional velocity using the index methods referring to chapter 7.3; 4) Determine the area of the wetted cross section from the stage-area relationship; 5) Obtain discharge of each segment by multiplying the depth-averaged velocity in each segment by the wetted cross-sectional area of each segment. And then create the sum of all segments to obtain whole discharge in cross section. This procedure is applicable to different kinds of channel and river sections. Applications include: — Rivers and streams; — Artificial channels such as drainage ditches and irrigation channels; — Process flows on wastewater treatment plants. For any individual site the method to measure water surface velocity should be selected appropriately, based on the site conditions, nature of the application and uncertainty required. Take a special note that non-contact methods should not be used where a unique relation between surface velocity and depth averaged velocity cannot be established, e.g. where tidal phenomena are present. This is caused by the variations of flow magnitude and direction over depth being highly variable over time under these circumstances. Regarding backwater zones or in the vicinity of obstacles the relation between surface velocity and depth averaged velocity may be more complicated, but even here optical methods may be helpful to at least learn the situation at the surface.

 

Scope of the proposed deliverable To determine liquid flow, the following steps are necessary: 1) Measure water surface (or near surface) velocity with techniques using radar, laser or video images; 2) Adjust wind effects to the water surface velocity; 3) Translate the adjusted velocity to an averaged velocity by applying the velocity index or numerical computation; 4) Determine the area of the wetted cross section from the stage area relationship; and 5) Obtain water discharge by multiplying the averaged velocity by the wetted cross sectional area. This procedure is applicable to different kinds of channel and river section. Applications include: •Rivers and streams; •Artificial channels such as drainage ditches and irrigation channels; •Wastewater flows discharging to sewer or the environment through channels or partially filled pipes; •In sewer measurements; •Process flows on wastewater treatment plants. For any individual site the method to measure water surface velocity should be selected appropriately, based on the site conditions, nature of the application and uncertainty required. Take a special note that non-contact methods should NOT be used where a tidal phenomenon is present.

 

This part of ISO 11268 specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining the acute toxicity of soil contaminants, waste materials and chemicals to Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei by dermal and alimentary uptake. It 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. Effects of substances are assessed using a standard soil, preferably a defined artificial soil substrate. For contaminated soils, the effects on survival 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) can be either an uncontaminated soil comparable 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 chemicals under temperate as well as under tropical conditions. The method 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. This method does not take into account the possible degradation of the substances or contaminants during the test. This method also includes technical information on how to use it with other environmentally relevant earthworm species, i.e. Dendrodrilus rubidus and Aporrectodea caliginosa (see Annex E and Annex F) as well as a test design to acquire data for toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) modelling (Annex G).

 

1 Scope This part of ISO 11268 specifies one of the methods for evaluating the habitat function of soils and determining the acute toxicity of soil contaminants and chemicals to Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei by dermal and alimentary uptake. It 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. Effects of substances are assessed using a standard soil, preferably a defined artificial soil substrate. For contaminated soils, the effects on survival 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 comparable 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 chemicals under temperate as well as under tropical conditions. 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 0,013 3 Pa at 25 °C. This method does not take into account the possible degradation of the substances or contaminants during the test.

 

This document specifies a method primarily developed for the determination of inorganic As(III) and As(V) species in soil. It covers the extraction of the inorganic As(III) and As(V) from soil using 0,43 M nitric acid (HNO3) and EDTA without a significant As species transformation during the extraction procedure and its analysis using LC-ICP-MS.

 

This International Standard describes the factors to be taken into consideration and the measurements to be made when designing and performing a pumping test. It also presents a set of guidelines for field practice taking into account the diversity of objectives, aquifer types, groundwater conditions, available technology, and legal frameworks. The standard outlines the fundamental components typically included in a pumping test and provides information on how these components can be adapted to reflect local conditions. It addresses the common types of pumping test conducted for water-supply purposes, in which water is extracted from the entire screened, perforated, or unlined interval(s) of a well. This International Standard provides only general guidance on the interpretation of data collected during a pumping test. Detailed procedures and methodologies for data analysis and interpretation are provided in specialized literature. Examples of such references are listed in the selected bibliography.