ASTM_E_1197_-_12.pdf

Designation:E119712Standard Guide forConducting a Terrestrial Soil-Core Microcosm Test1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1197;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide defines the requirements and procedures forusing soil-core microcosms to test the environmental fate,ecological effects,and environmental transport of chemicalsthat may enter terrestrial ecosystems.The approach and thematerials suggested for use in the microcosm test are alsodescribed.1.2 This guide details a procedure designed to supplysite-specific or possibly regional information on the probablechemical fate and ecological effects in a soil system resultingfrom the release or spillage of chemicals into the environmentin either liquid or solid form.1.3 Experience has shown that microcosms are most helpfulin the assessment process after preliminary knowledge aboutthe chemical properties and biological activity have beenobtained.Data generated from the test can then be used tocompare the potential terrestrial environmental hazards of achemical.1.4This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety problems,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of SoilsD511 Test Methods for Calcium and Magnesium In WaterD515 Test Method for Phosphorus In Water(Withdrawn1997)3D1426 Test Methods for Ammonia Nitrogen In WaterD2167 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil inPlace by the Rubber Balloon MethodD2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water(Moisture)Content of Soil and Rock by MassD2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils(Visual-Manual Procedure)D3867 Test Methods for Nitrite-Nitrate in Water2.2 U.S.Environmental Protection Agency:Environmental Effects Test Guidelines,EPA 560 6-82-002,19824Chemical Fate Test Guideline,EPA 560 6-82-003,198253.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 soil-core terrestrial microcosman intact soil-corecontaining the natural assemblages of biota surrounded by theboundary material.The system includes all equipment,facilities,and instrumentation necessary to maintain,monitor,and control the environment.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 terrestrial microcosm or micro-ecosystem a physicalmodel of an interacting community of autotrophs,omnivores,herbivores,carnivores and decomposers within an intact soilprofile.The forcing functions,for example,light intensity andduration,water quality and watering regime,temperature,andtoxicant dose for the test system,are under the investigatorscontrol.This test system is distinguished from test tube andsingle-species toxicity tests by the presence of a naturalassemblage of organisms.This assemblage creates a higherorder of ecological complexity and,thus,provides the capacityto evaluate chemical effects on component interactions andecological processes.Certain features of this test system,however,set limits on the types of questions that can beaddressed.Those limitations are related to scale and sampling,which in turn constrain both(a)the type of ecosystems and1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E50 on EnvironmentalAssessment,Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-ity of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.Current edition approved Nov.1,2012.Published December 2012.Originallyapproved in 1987.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as E119787(2004).DOI:10.1520/E1197-87R04.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.4Available from the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances,Washington,DC.Also available as PB82 23992 from National Technical Information Service(NTIS),United States Department of Commerce,5285 Port Royal Rd.,Spring-field,VA 22161.5Available from Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances,Washington,DC.Also available as PB82 233008 from National Technical Information Service(NTIS),United States Department of Commerce,5285 Port Royal Rd.,Spring-field,VA 22161.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 species assemblages on which one can gain information,and(b)the longevity of the test system.3.2.2 physical,chemical,and biological conditions of testsystemdetermined by the type o