Incremental Sampling: Challenges and Opportunities for Environmental Forensics

Abstract

In the past 10 years, a new approach to soil sampling has found increasing application on contaminated properties and sites. Known as incremental sampling, this new approach provides a clear contrast to traditional methods utilizing discrete soil samples. Not surprisingly, incremental sampling presents challenges to the historical reliance on discrete samples in environmental remediation. This discussion highlights several of the challenges and opportunities incremental sampling also presents to the field of environmental forensics.

Keywords:

• incremental sampling
• discrete soil samples
• environmental forensics
• hot spots
• representativeness
• reproducibility
• composite sampling
• laboratory subsampling

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to acknowledge the help and contributions of several colleagues and organizations. Specifically, they thank Mark Bruce of TestAmerica, Inc., Deana Crumbling of US EPA and the ITRC for permission to utilize illustrations; the ITRC Incremental Sampling Methodology Team for their work in preparing a guidance document and internet-based training modules on this subject; and Mark Malinowski of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control for his thoughtful review and suggestions on an early draft of the manuscript.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the authors, and do not reflect the policies or positions of the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), Cardno ENTRIX, or any other organization with whom either of the authors is associated.