ASTM C998-90(2000)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionuclides
Standard Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionuclides
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the sampling of surface soil for the purpose of obtaining a sample representative of a particular area for subsequent chemical analysis of selected radionuclides.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:C998–90(Reapproved 2000)
Standard Practice for
Sampling Surface Soil for Radionuclides
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 998; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Soil sampling does serve as a secondary system, and in many
cases, is the only available avenue if insufficient air sampling
1.1 This practice covers the sampling of surface soil for the
occurred at the time of an incident. For many insoluble
purpose of obtaining a sample representative of a particular
radionuclides, the primary exposure pathway to the general
area for subsequent chemical analysis of selected radionu-
population is by inhalation. The resuspension of transuranic
clides. This practice describes one acceptable approach to
elements has received considerable attention (1, 2) and their
collect soil samples for radiochemical analysis.
measurement in soil is one means of establishing compliance
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
lines on exposure to transuranic elements. Soil sampling can
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
provide useful information for other purposes, such as plant
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
uptake studies, total inventory of various radionuclides in soil
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
due to atmospheric nuclear tests, and the accumulation of
2. Referenced Documents
radionuclides as a function of time. A soil sampling and
analysis program as part of a preoperational environmental
2.1 ASTM Standards:
monitoring program serves to establish baseline concentra-
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering, De-
tions. Consideration was given to these criteria in preparing
sign, and Construction Purposes
this practice.
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
5.2 Soil collected by this practice and subsequent analysis is
3. Terminology
used to monitor radionuclide deposition of emissions from
nuclear facilities. The critical factors necessary to provide this
3.1 Definitions:
informationaresamplinglocation,timeofsampling,frequency
3.1.1 sampling—obtaining a representative portion of the
of sampling, sample size, and maintenance of the integrity of
material concerned (see Terminology D 1129).
the sample prior to analysis. Since the soil is considered to be
4. Summary of Practice
a heterogeneous medium, multipoint sampling is necessary.
The samples must represent the conditions existing in the area
4.1 Guidance is provided for the collection of soil samples
for which data are desired.
to a depth of 50 mm. Ten core samples are collected in a
specified pattern and composited to obtain sufficient sample so
6. Apparatus
as to be representative of the area.
6.1 Sampling Instrument —In order to standardize the
5. Significance and Use
sample collection, it is suggested that the coring tool be that
instrument used by golf courses to place the hole in the putting
5.1 Soil provides a source material for the determination of
green. This instrument is commercially available at reasonable
selected radionuclides and serves as an integrator of the
cost, has approximately a 0.105-m diameter barrel, and can
deposition of airborne materials. Soil sampling should not be
take samples down to 0.3 m. An illustration of the sampling
used as the primary measurement system to demonstrate
instrument and its use is provided in Fig. 1.
compliance with applicable radionuclides in air standards.This
6.2 Sample Container, such as metal cans with lids, plastic
shouldbedonebyairsamplingorbymeasuringemissionrates.
bags, etc.
6.3 Meter Stick.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Test
Methods.
Current edition approved June 29, 1990. Published August 1990. Originally The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
published as C 998 – 83. Last previous edition C 998 – 83. this practice.
2 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. Model 28200 Scalloped Style of the Standard Manufacturing Company of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Cedar Falls, IA, or its equivalent, has been found satisfactory for this purpose.
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C998
trees, or other obstructions that it is sheltered or shielded. High
earthworm activity or aeration of the root zone may result in
uneven mixing of the surface soil and, therefore, this type of
site should be avoided. Care should be taken not to select a site
that is fertilized or watered with sources that may add
radioactive materials to the soil, that is, some fertilizers have
high uranium concentrations. It is important to be able to
accurately describe the location at which the sample was
collected if it becomes necessary to return and resample the
location.
7.2.2 The number of sites sampled is determined by the
purpose of the sampling and the information required from the
particular analysis. If the sampling is part of a preoperational
survey around a facility, one acceptable distribution is that
proposed in HASL-300 (4) and depicted in Fig. 2. This
distribution of 13 sampling sites extending up to 10 km in the
downwind direction from the facility should be adequate to
provide the background concentration of the nuclides of
interest. Sampling for other purposes may require other distri-
bution of sites, while sampling to define the distribution of a
nuclide from a specific incident would require extensive
knowledge of meteorological and climatological factors. It is
important that the purpose of the sampling dictate the sample
FIG. 1 Soil Sampling Instrument and Use distribution.
8. Procedure
6.4 Small Scoop.
8.1 Sampling Procedure:
8.1.1 Select the sampling location based on Section 7.
7. Sampling 2
8.1.2 Measure out two 1-m areas, about 3 m apart.
7.1 Introduction— The sampling depth for this practice is
8.1.3 Remove all vegetation to a height of 10 to 20 mm
the top 50 mm of soil. Experience has shown this depth is best
above the soil and save if desired.
for this purpose (3) and provides samples for the analysis of
8.1.4 Collect soil from the center and each corner of the two
deposited radionuclides following a recent airborne release.
1-m areas.
The differ
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