Soil sampling strategies: evaluation of different approaches.
The National Environmental Protection Agency of Italy (APAT) performed a soil sampling intercomparison, inviting 14 regional agencies to test their own soil sampling strategies. The intercomparison was carried out at a reference site, previously characterised for metal mass fraction distribution. A wide range of sampling strategies, in terms of sampling patterns, type and number of samples collected, were used to assess the mean mass fraction values of some selected elements. The different strategies led in general to acceptable bias values (D) less than 2sigma, calculated according to ISO 13258. Sampling on arable land was relatively easy, with comparable results between different sampling strategies.
Agenzia per la Protezione dell'Ambiente e per i Servizi Tecnici (APAT), Servizio Metrologia Ambientale, Via di Castel Romano, 100-00128 Roma, Italy. paolo.dezorzi@apat.it
Paolo
P
de Zorzi
Sabrina
S
Barbizzi
Maria
M
Belli
Renzo
R
Mufato
Giuseppe
G
Sartori
Giulia
G
Stocchero
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D007558:Italy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018401:Sample Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive