ASTM_E_1391_-_03_2014.pdf

Designation:E139103(Reapproved 2014)Standard Guide forCollection,Storage,Characterization,and Manipulation ofSediments for Toxicological Testing and for Selection ofSamplers Used to Collect Benthic Invertebrates1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1391;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.Scope*1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining,storing,characterizing,and manipulating marine,estuarine,and fresh-water sediments,for use in laboratory sediment toxicity evalu-ations and describes samplers that can be used to collectsediment and benthic invertebrates(Annex A1).This standardis not meant to provide detailed guidance for all aspects ofsedimentassessments,suchaschemicalanalysesormonitoring,geophysical characterization,or extractable phaseand fractionation analyses.However,some of this informationmight have applications for some of these activities.A varietyof methods are reviewed in this guide.A statement on theconsensus approach then follows this review of the methods.This consensus approach has been included in order to fosterconsistency among studies.It is anticipated that recommendedmethods and this guide will be updated routinely to reflectprogress in our understanding of sediments and how to beststudy them.This version of the standard is based primarily ona document developed by USEPA(2001(1)2and by Environ-ment Canada(1994(2)as well as an earlier version of thisstandard.1.2 Protecting sediment quality is an important part ofrestoring and maintaining the biological integrity of our naturalresources as well as protecting aquatic life,wildlife,and humanhealth.Sediment is an integral component of aquaticecosystems,providing habitat,feeding,spawning,and rearingareas for many aquatic organisms(MacDonald and Ingersoll2002 a,b(3)(4).Sediment also serves as a reservoir forcontaminants in sediment and therefore a potential source ofcontaminants to the water column,organisms,and ultimatelyhuman consumers of those organisms.These contaminants canarise from a number of sources,including municipal andindustrial discharges,urban and agricultural runoff,atmo-spheric deposition,and port operations.1.3 Contaminated sediment can cause lethal and sublethaleffects in benthic(sediment-dwelling)and other sediment-associated organisms.In addition,natural and human distur-bances can release contaminants to the overlying water,wherepelagic(water column)organisms can be exposed.Sediment-associated contaminants can reduce or eliminate species ofrecreational,commercial,or ecological importance,eitherthrough direct effects or by affecting the food supply thatsustainable populations require.Furthermore,some contami-nants in sediment can bioaccumulate through the food chainand pose health risks to wildlife and human consumers evenwhen sediment-dwelling organisms are not themselves im-pacted(Test Method E1706).1.4 There are several regulatory guidance documents con-cerned with sediment collection and characterization proce-dures that might be important for individuals performingfederal or state agency-related work.Discussion of some of theprinciples and current thoughts on these approaches can befound in Dickson,et al.Ingersoll et al.(1997(5),and Wenningand Ingersoll(2002(6).1.5 This guide is arranged as follows:SectionScope1Referenced Documents2Terminology3Summary of Guide4Significance and Use5Interferences6Apparatus7Safety Hazards8Sediment Monitoring and Assessment Plans9Collection of Whole Sediment Samples10Field Sample Processing,Transport,and Storage ofSediments11Sample Manipulations12Collection of Interstitial Water13Physico-chemical Characterization of Sediment Samples14Quality Assurance15Report16Keywords17Description of Samplers Used to Collect Sediment orBenthic InvertebratesAnnex A11This 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 Oct.1,2014.Published May 2015.Originally approvedin 1990.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E1391 03(2008).DOI:10.1520/E1391-03R14.2The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end ofthis standard.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 1.6 Field-collected sediments might contain potentiallytoxic materials and should thus be treated with caution tominimize occupational exposure to workers.Worker safetymust also be considered when working with spiked sedimentscontaining various organic,inorganic,or radiolabeledcontaminants,or some combination thereof.Careful