United States Office of Water EPA-823-F-01-023

Environmental Protection 4305 October 2001

Agency

 

 FACT SHEET

 Methods for Collection, Storage and

Manipulation of Sediments for Chemical and

Toxicological Analyses: Technical Manual

Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing information and

recommendations for collecting, handling and manipulating sediment samples for

physicochemical characterization and biological testing. This technical manual provides a

compilation of methods that are most likely to yield accurate, representative sediment

quality data based on the experience of many monitoring programs and researchers. 

Background

B

ottom sediments provide essential

habitat for many freshwater,

estuarine, and marine organisms. 

In aquatic systems, many man-made

chemicals and waste materials,

particularly persistent organic and

inorganic chemicals, may accumulate in

sediments. These sediments become

repositories for many toxic chemicals. 

The United States Environmental

Protection Agency’s 1998 National

Sediment Inventory, a biennial report to

Congress on sediment quality in the

United States, identified sediment

contamination in every state of the

country. 

C

ontaminated sediments represent a

hazard to aquatic life through direct

toxicity as well as to aquatic life,

wildlife and human health through

bioaccumulation. Assessments of

sediment quality commonly include

analyses of man-made contaminants,

benthic community structure,

physicochemical characteristics, and

direct measures of whole sediment and

pore water toxicity. 

Why is EPA publishing a manual

on the collection, storage and

manipulation of sediments?

A

ccurate assessment of environmental

hazards posed by sediment

contamination depends in large part

on the accuracy and representativeness of

sediment collection and analyses. Accurate

assessment of sediment quality is needed to

trigger source controls and/or remediation

for a watershed. 

T

his Manual addresses several needs

identified in EPA’s 1998 Contaminated

Sediment Strategy including: 

• an organized discussion of activities

involved in sediment sampling and

sample processing; 

• important issues that need to be

considered within each activity; and 

• recommendations on how to best

address issues such as sampling

design, proper sampling procedures,

and sample manipulations. 
What does the manual contain?

I

nformation is provided concerning

appropriate sampling design, field and

laboratory facilities needed, safety,

sampling equipment, sample storage and

transport procedures, and sample

manipulation issues common to chemical

or toxicological analyses. Information in

this manual reflects the knowledge and

experience of organizations that have

developed internationally recognized

procedures and protocols including: 

• American Society for Testing and

Materials, 

• Puget Sound Estuary Program, 

• Washington State Department of

Ecology, 

• US Environmental Protection

Agency, 

• US Army Corps of Engineers, 

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, and 

• Environment Canada.

This manual presents a set of

recommendations on field sampling

techniques and sediment/ interstitial water

sample processing using extensive

information in the current peer-reviewed

literature. 

Who will use this manual?

T

his manual provides technical

support to those who design or

perform sediment quality studies

under a variety of regulatory and nonregulatory programs. The methods are

widely applicable to anyone wishing to

collect consistent, high-quality sediment

data. This manual is not guidance on

how to implement any specific regulatory

requirement. Rather, it is a compilation of

technical methods on how to best collect

environmental samples that most

accurately reflect environmental

conditions. 

How do I get this manual?

A

pdf version of this document is

available for viewing or downloading

from the EPA Office of Science and

Technology’s web site at:

www.epa.gov/OST/cs. 

A

limited number of copies of the

complete document, entitled Methods

for Collection, Storage and

Manipulation of Sediments for Chemical

and Toxicological Analyses: Technical

Manual are available from: 

National Service Center for Environmental

Publications

P.O. Box 42419

Cincinnati, OH., 45242.

1-800-490-9198

http://www.epa.gov/ncepi/

Water Resource Center

202-260-7786

center.water-resource@epa.gov

Request document # EPA-823-B-01-002.

Who do I contact for more

information?

F

or more information on the Methods

for Collection, Storage and

Manipulation of Sediments for

Chemical and Toxicological Analyses:

Technical Manual contact: 

Richard Healy, 

Health Protection and Modeling Branch,

Office of Science and Technology, 

Mail Code 4305, 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

 Ariel Rios Building, 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20460 

(202) 260-7812; 

healy.richard@epa.gov.