You are here:
LITERATURE REVIEW AND REPORT: SURFACE-SEDIMENT SAMPLER DATABASE
Citation:
FieldsCapri, J. AND B A. Schumacher. LITERATURE REVIEW AND REPORT: SURFACE-SEDIMENT SAMPLER DATABASE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-03/115 (NTIS PB2004-101011), 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
The overall objective of this task is to provide the Agency with improved state-of-the-science guidance, strategies, and techniques to more accurately and effectively collect environmental samples. Under this umbrella objective, research is being conducted to: (a) reduce/minimize the loss of VOCs during sample collection, handling, and preservation, (b) collect undisturbed surface sediments so that the effects of recent depositional events (e.g., flooding or dredging) can clearly be delineated as to their influence on the contamination concentrations present downstream (or where the sediments are deposited), and (c) to determine an effective method to effectively and efficiently separate asbestos in soils from the rest of the soil matrix while maintaining the integrity (i.e, no fiber size reduction) of the asbestos fibers.
Description:
A literature review was conducted to identify available surface sediment sampling technologies with an ability to collect undisturbed sediments to depths of up to 1 meter below the water sediment interface. This survey was conducted using published literature and references, Environmental Protection Agency reports, professional sources, journal articles, internet web sites, sales brochures, and other sources as identified. For each piece of sampling equipment or sampling tool identified during the literature search, the following information was collected: general description of the equipment or tool, including its size, shape, weight, and composition; manufacturer's name, address, phone number, and email; a picture of the equipment or tool; the general mechanism of operation; sample volume collected; chemical and physical compatibility concerns; labor requirements; cost; and other requirements such as electrical power or specialized training.
Sampling methodologies included in this investigation are grab or core types of sampling devices, as these types are most typically used in collecting surface sediments. In this review, 40 samplers were identified that included 13 grab samplers and 27 core samplers. Grab samplers included in the review are the Ponar, Birge-Ekman, Van Veen, Peterson, Mud Snapper, Scoopfish, Shipek, Smith-McIntyre, and others. Core samplers included in the review are the piston, splitcore, box, Vibracore, Mackereth, Ballchek, Craib, Gomex, Phleger, and others. These technologies were identified through contacts with centers of contaminated sediments expertise and included in the study. Vendors were solicited to provide required information for the report.
All information collected in the literature search phase is maintained in an Access@ database. Pictures of equipment will be maintained in digital PDF or JPEG file formats in a sediment sampler picture file directory associated with the database. Information contained in the database is provided in the Appendix to this report.