🌿 Sampling of marine sediments for the investigation of physical and chemical properties in monitoring and environmental assessments — strategy (reconnaissance survey, baseline survey with impact assessment, temporal trend survey), random, grid or gradient placement of stations away from a pollution source, number of replicate samples (usually at least three per station where variability is high) or a composite sample, reference stations, sediment cores, equipment, sample handling, packaging and storage; not for freshwater sediments, PN-EN ISO 5667-19

Environment PN-EN ISO 5667-19

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of ISO 5667-19:2004 (English text): title page, contents, foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–3 and Clause 4 to the end of 4.4 (reference stations) — the sample ends on page 5. The ends of several sentences are missing in the text (e.g. in the scope at the reference to the bibliography, in 4.2.2 and 4.2.4 b). We do not read Clauses 5–8 (sampling procedure: requirements for the vessel, station positioning, choice of equipment, sample handling, identification and records; packaging and storage; safety; quality assurance) or Annexes A (sample form) and B (description of samplers); we know the titles from the contents.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 5667-19:2004. The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 147 “Water quality”, Subcommittee SC 6 “Sampling (general methods)”; at the time of publication the series ISO 5667 “Water quality — Sampling” had 19 parts, including Part 1 — design of programmes, Part 12 — sampling of bottom sediments, Part 15 — preservation and handling of sludge and sediment samples, Part 19 — marine sediments. Introduction: the analysis of marine sediments plays an important role in monitoring the aquatic environment owing to the ability of sediments to accumulate contaminants; marine sediments vary greatly in organic matter content, mineralogy and texture; under ideal conditions (accumulation areas — deep basins, trenches) sediment is deposited chronologically, so changes in contaminant deposition can be assigned to periods; monitoring is carried out worldwide without a common set of procedures, and the standard is intended to change this. Scope (1): guidance on sampling sediments from marine areas for the investigation of physical and chemical properties in monitoring and environmental assessments — strategy, equipment, observations and information collected during sampling, sample handling, packaging and storage; the standard gives no guidance on data processing and analysis; it is not intended for sampling freshwater sediments. References (2): ISO 6107 (all parts, vocabulary). Definitions (3): acoustic survey (mapping of seabed topography and sediment stratigraphy with sound waves), baseline survey (description of conditions as a basis for future monitoring), contaminant (compound or element harmful at concentrations above background), recipient (water body receiving material), reference station (represents natural conditions), replicate samples (taken simultaneously at the same station and in the same way), subsample. Plan (4.1): drawing up the plan is one of the most important steps; the programme follows from the objectives and the required data quality; the strategy covers the area, methodology and type of survey, position and number of stations, taking into account seasons and the rhythm of discharges; the required precision, variability of the substrate, topography and hydrography, contamination sources and earlier surveys have to be taken into account; the number of stations, their position and the number of replicate samples are set before the survey (adjustments in the field are possible, especially in pilot surveys); sources of variability are the sampling error and the measurement error; more in ISO 5667-1. Types of survey (4.2, Table 1): reconnaissance (pilot) — a few randomly placed samples in the deposition area, when the source is unknown or there are no data; preferably a grid of stations and a prior acoustic survey (sampling is always needed to confirm acoustic data; with variable seabed topography, wind and currents only an acoustic survey or ROV makes it possible to assess the uniformity of deposition); baseline and impact assessment — when the source is known, stations in a grid or along the gradient of expected contamination, an isoline map, decrease of concentrations with distance, amount of contaminants in the surface layer; environmental assessment based on detailed chemical and physical investigation, comparison with sediment quality criteria and with reference areas, followed by control monitoring; temporal trends — fixed stations and standardized methodology; a) surface samples within a fixed radius of a reference point with accurate positioning (e.g. DGPS), at a frequency depending on the sedimentation rate (example: at 2 mm/year — every 5 years, i.e. 1 cm), b) analysis of layers from undisturbed cores, taking bioturbation into account, usually along the transect of greatest depth, with data on the sedimentation rate (e.g. isotope dating) and — if possible — down to the depth of uncontaminated sediments; sediments disturbed by human activity (e.g. trawling) are usually unsuitable for retrospective trend surveys. Placement (4.3): shallow areas with uneven topography usually give poor material (fine fractions are washed out), while deep basins and flat seabed are typical accumulation areas of fine sediments carrying contaminants; coarse, sandy sediments should be avoided in contamination surveys; the number of replicate samples is chosen from a statistical assessment — depending on it, at least three separately analysed samples per station may be needed; with uneven distribution (near sources, in harbours, in shallows) many replicates are needed; if separate analyses are not possible — a composite sample of equal portions, homogenized before analysis; placement principles: random (a predetermined number of samples, unbiased — pilot surveys and partly baseline), grid (first station random, then at fixed intervals, e.g. every 50 m — quality assessments and impact area), gradient (sectors or transects from the source, taking into account grain size, organic matter, redox conditions, currents — baseline and trend surveys). Reference stations (4.4): in contaminated areas they can be established outside the impact area, if possible without the influence of point discharges; an alternative is measurement in core layers deposited in the pre-industrial era; sampling at reference stations under conditions as similar as possible (depth, sediment type).

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). In the PKN search (query “5667-19”, 03.10.2026) PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006 (Polish version, “Wprowadza: EN ISO 5667-19:2004 [IDT], ISO 5667-19:2004 [IDT]”) carries no withdrawal note; PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2005 (English version) — “Wycofana i zastąpiona przez PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006 – wersja polska”. Card of PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006: publication date 16.02.2006, 19 pages, KT 119 Jakości Wody — Problemy Podstawowe, no withdrawal note. In the iTeh catalogue (read 03.10.2026) ISO 5667-19:2004 has the status “Published”, stage 90.93 (International Standard confirmed). ISO 5667-12:2017 “Guidance on sampling of bottom sediments from rivers, lakes and estuarine areas” — in the iTeh catalogue “Published”, stage 90.93 (read 03.10.2026); in the PKN search (query “5667-12”, 03.10.2026) no results.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 03.10.2026). The number 5667-19 appears in 3 records at 3 laboratories: AB 362, AB 646, AB 868. In the current PCA documents (read 03.10.2026; AB 868 issue no. 21 of 06.03.2026, AB 646 issue no. 26 of 29.06.2026, AB 362 issue no. 28 of 16.07.2026) the number appears in 3 lines at the same 3 laboratories; in each document the number of page markers equals the number of PDF pages, without repetitions; a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP on 03.10.2026 found no laboratories outside the database copy. The form is “PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006” — alone (AB 646, AB 868) or after “ISO 5667-12:2017” (AB 362). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (query “PN-EN ISO 5667-19”) shows all 3 laboratories — checked by a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Object: bottom sediments (all three). Activity: sampling for chemical and physical testing (AB 362, AB 868), for physical and chemical testing (AB 646). No measurement methods are listed with the standard in these lines — only sampling.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Object: the standard covers marine sediments and is explicitly not intended for freshwater sediments (1); the scopes speak of “bottom sediments” without distinction — for rivers, lakes and estuaries there is ISO 5667-12 (at AB 362 cited together with PN-EN ISO 5667-19). Representativeness: sandy, coarse sediments are poorly suited to contamination surveys, and shallow areas with uneven seabed give poor material (4.3.1); disturbed sediments, e.g. by trawling, are unsuitable for trends (4.2.4). Replicate samples: their number follows from a statistical assessment — with high variability at least three separately analysed samples per station; a composite sample only when separate analyses are not possible, from equal portions (4.3.1). Cores: without data on the sedimentation rate and bioturbation, layers cannot be assigned to periods (4.2.4). Assessment: a result without a reference station or a pre-industrial layer does not say what the background is (4.4).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. The requirements for the vessel, positioning, choice of samplers, sample handling, packaging and storage, safety and quality assurance (Clauses 5–8, Annexes A–B) are not quoted — they lie outside the sample. We have not read the content of ISO 5667-12.

Method principle

The sampling plan follows from the purpose of the survey: reconnaissance (a few random stations in the deposition area), baseline and impact assessment (grid or gradient from a known source) or temporal trends (fixed stations, surface samples within a fixed radius or layers from undisturbed cores). Stations are located in accumulation areas of fine sediments, the number of replicate samples is set from a statistical assessment, and the background is established by reference stations or pre-industrial core layers. Samples are identified, packed and stored according to the further clauses of the standard.

Applications

• Sampling of marine sediments for physical and chemical investigation in monitoring and environmental assessments (1)
• Not for freshwater sediments — for them ISO 5667-12 (1)
• Bottom sediments — sampling for chemical and physical testing: items in the accreditation scopes of 3 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006

Title (PL)

Jakość wody — Pobieranie próbek — Część 19: Wytyczne dotyczące pobierania próbek osadów morskich

Title (EN)

Water quality — Sampling — Part 19: Guidance on sampling of marine sediments

Step-by-step procedure

1. Purpose and plan

   Type of survey, area, number and position of stations, number of replicates — before the survey (4.1, 4.2). PN-EN ISO 5667-19:2006 with no withdrawal note in PKN (03.10.2026).

2. Seabed survey

   Acoustic survey or ROV, choice of accumulation areas (4.2.2, 4.3.1).

3. Placement of stations

   Random, grid or along a gradient; reference stations (4.3, 4.4).

4. Sampling

   Surface samples or cores; replicate samples according to the statistical assessment (4.2.4, 4.3.1; equipment and procedure in Clause 5).

5. Samples

   Identification, records, packaging and storage (titles 5.5 and 6; outside the sample).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Work on a vessel — safety measures according to Clause 7 of the standard (outside the sample) and shipping regulations

Frequently asked questions