RECORD study no. 04-0510/1A deals with the problem of on-site soil
sampling. Site owners and industrial operators are often at a loss when it
comes to carrying out pollution diagnostics. They feel that, at present, they
do not have the necessary hindsight to make a value judgement on the results
reported. The aim of the study is to answer this
question by producing a document that brings together all the knowledge in the
field of soil sampling. This document is not a methodological guide. It should
be seen as a summary of what has been learned, setting out the advantages and
disadvantages of current practices and the limits to their use. There can be no single answer to the
question of soil sampling, as it depends on a large number of factors. For this
reason, the results of the summary are presented in the form of two grids that
cross-reference the sampling objectives with, on the one hand, the nature of
the pollution and, on the other hand, the type of pollution and the context of
the site. Each box in the grid corresponds to a sampling situation. The document is based on experience
feedback. It focuses exclusively on soil and not on waste. It deals with common
cases of pollution. The particular case of radioactive substances and
explosives, which require specific methodologies, is not addressed. The options presented for each of the
sampling situations identified are the most economical solutions that meet the
objectives set. The document is designed to evolve over
time and, by being made available to professionals, should enable its content
to evolve through practical application in new situations.
Promotion of this work by the MEEDDM
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