Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Chemical Pollutants: A Complete Guide

✍ Scribed by E. P. Popek

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 363
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

An excellent introduction to the real world of environmental work, this title helps both college students and working professionals improve their understanding of the data collection process. It covers all phases of data collection (planning, field sampling, laboratory analysis, and data quality assessment), and is a single source comprehensive reference for the resolution of the most common problems that environmental professionals face daily in their work. Why This TitleThis title is written in a clear and logical manner that is accessible to environmental professionals of all disciplines. It contains hundreds of practical tips on planning, sampling, and interactions with analytical laboratories. Having this text as a desk reference will greatly improve skills in planning and sampling, and elevate understanding of chemical data to a new level. This topic is of importance to a wide range of environmental professionals from a variety of disciplines (see audience). Written by a practicing professional for practicing professionals, this handbook provides everything an environmental professional needs to know to competently collect environmental chemical data.

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1. The sample and the error
1.1 THE CONCEPT OF RELEVANT AND VALID DATA
1.2 IMPORTANCE OF A STEPWISE APPROACH
1.3 SEVEN STEPS OF THE SAMPLE’S LIFE
1.4 TOTAL ERROR AND ITS SOURCES
1.5 TOTAL ERROR AND DATA USABILITY
2. Bird’s eye view of project planning
2.1 WHAT ARE DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES?
2.2 DEFINITIVE, SCREENING, AND EFFECTIVE DATA
2.3 REGULATORY OVERVIEW AND ACTION LEVELS
2.4 HOW TO NAVIGATE THE ANALYTICAL METHOD MAZE
2.5 SAMPLING STRATEGIES
2.6 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SAMPLES
2.7 COST ESTIMATE
2.8 PLANNING DOCUMENTS
2.9 ANALYTICAL METHOD AND LABORATORY SELECTION
2.10 PREPAREDNESS AND COORDINATION
3. Practical approach to sampling
3.1 SEVEN STEPS OF THE SAMPLING PROCESS
3.2 SAMPLE CUSTODY AND TRACKING
3.3 SAMPLE PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES
3.4 SAMPLE PACKAGING AND SHIPMENT
3.5 SOIL SAMPLING DESIGNS
3.6 WATER SAMPLING
3.7 SURFACE SAMPLING WITH WIPES
3.8 EQUIPMENT DECONTAMINATION
3.9 FIELD MEASUREMENTS
3.10 FIELD RECORDS
4. Understanding the analytical laboratory
4.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR LABORATORY OPERATION
4.2 LABORATORY ORGANIZATION
4.3 THE SEVEN STEPS OF LABORATORY PROCESS
4.4 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
4.5 COMPOUND QUANTITATION
4.6 LABORATORY QUALITY ASSURANCE
5. Data quality assessment
5.1 DATA EVALUATION
5.2 THE SEVEN STEPS OF DATA EVALUATION
5.3 THE SEVEN STEPS OF THE DATA QUALITY ASSESSMENT
Appendices
Appendix 1: Definitions of Basic Statistical Terms
Appendix 2: Toxic and Conventional Pollutants for the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Appendix 3: Maximum Contaminant Concentrations for the Toxicity Characteristic
Appendix 4: List of California Toxic Substances, Their Soluble Threshold Limit Concentrations and Total Threshold Limit Concentrations
Appendix 5: PCB Cleanup Levels for Various Matrices
Appendix 6: The EPA Quality Assurance Project Plan Table of Contents
Appendix 7: Example of a Sampling and Analysis Plan Table of Contents
Appendix 8: Example of a Field Sampling Supplies and Equipment Checklist
Appendix 9: Example of a Chain-of-Custody Form
Appendix 10: Example of a Custody Seal and a Sample Label
Appendix 11: Example of a Sample Tracking Log
Appendix 12: Analytical Method References, Containers, Preservation, and Holding Time for Soil Samples
Appendix 13: Analytical Method Requirements, Sample Containers, Preservation, and Holding Time for Water Samples
Appendix 14: Stockpile Statistics Worksheet
Appendix 15: Example of a Sample Container Tracking Log
Appendix 16: Example of a Groundwater Sampling Form
Appendix 17: Example of a Laboratory Cooler Receipt Form
Appendix 18: Gas Chromatography or High Performance Liquid Chromatography Data Package Content
Appendix 19: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Data Package Content
Appendix 20: Trace Element Analysis Data Package Content
Appendix 21: Inorganic Data Package Content
Appendix 22: Calculations Used for Compound Quantitation
Appendix 23: Data Evaluation Checklist—Organic Compound Analysis
Appendix 24: Data Evaluation Checklist—Trace Element Analysis
Appendix 25: Data Evaluation Checklist—Inorganic Compound Analysis
REFERENCES
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Index