SAMPLE COLLECTION

GUIDE

Right Solutions • Right Partner

alsglobal.com
Soil / Solid Sediment Sample Containers

Column Header Sample Container Preservation GHS of classification Test Parameter(s) Notes Holding Times
and labelling of
chemicals
Soil Parameters 120mL glass jar/Teflon™ lined cap Nil, Chill to ≤10oC All parameters excluding Vola- Two jars are recommended for multi- pH–30 days Orange
tiles,Particle sizing,PFAS, ple leachates (TCLP or SPLP),Particle
General Inorganics–Unlimited
Organotins and Asbestos. sizing,TOC, Dioxins,PBDEs,Explosives,T-
CLP ZHE and Herbicides Nutrients–3 days
Metals–180 days
For Fly ash or other low density solids,
please submit 1 x 500mL or 2 x 250mL Cr (VI), Mercury and Speciated
glass jars/Teflon lined caps or ALS
hdpe bag. Metals–28 days
SVOC,LEPH,HEPH,F2-F4,Gly-
For SAR,Na or Cl saturated pastes,
please provide 2 x 250mL glass jars or cols,PAH,OCP.OPP,CPs, Sulfide
ALS hdpe bag (AVS) and Cyanide-14 days

Bulk or soil samples for asbestos must
be double bagged and identified on
the outer label as Asbestos containing.
F2-F4 –40 days ON MoE
SVOC,CPs,OCP.OPP,PAH-60 days
ON MoE
D/F,PCBs,PBBs,PBDEs–Unlimited
Dried pH,N,P,K+S-Unlimited
Aldehydes-5 days

Soil 120mL hdpe jar (Teflon™ free) Nil, , Chill to ≤10oC PFAS or Organotins PFAS–28 days Orange
PFAS and ORGANOTINS Organotins-30 days

Soil Volatiles 2 x 40mL glass vials (5 g TerraCore®/ 10 mL Methanol, Chill F1,VH,VPH,BTEX,VOC,THM,V- Additional 125mL glass jar required Field Methanol-40 days;14 days Orange
Methanol) or 2 x Hermetic samplers to ≤10oC FAs,1,4-Dioxane,Cl-Aromatics for moisture ON MoE
Hermetic Samplers – 48 hours

DANGER

Sediment Parameters 2 x 250mL glass jar/Teflon™ lined Nil, Chill to ≤10oC All parameters excluding PFAS See soil parameter holding times Orange
cap and Organotins

Dust 2L hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Dustfalls Use isopropanol or algaecide depend- 6 months Orange
ing on sampling season

Sample Collection Guide

P2
Water Sample Containers

Column Header
GENERAL WATER QUALITY
Sample Container Preservation GHS of classification Test Parameter(s)
and labelling of
chemicals
250mL hdpe (Group 1) Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Group 1 - Acidity,Alkalini-
ty, Conductivity, pH, Anions
500mL hdpe (Group 2) (Cl,SO4,F,NO3,NO2),Hardness,Ortho-
phosphate, Silica, Tannin & Lignins,
Turbidity, Colour, ORP, UV Abs/
Trans,TIC,DIC
Group 2 - All of Group 1 and routine
Level TSS (3 mg/L LOR) and TDS or
Sulfite
Notes Holding Times
pH and Sulfite should be pH-15 mins; 4 days ON MISA; 28 days Green
tested in the field as per ON MoE
BC MoE. Alkalinity/Acidity–14 days
Anions + EC–28 days; 4 days ON MoE
TSS/TDS -7 days
Colour-3 days; 48 hours AB
Turbidity-3 days; 48 hoursAB+ON MoE
Orthophosphate–3 days; 7 days ON MoE
NO2/NO3/NH3-3 days; 48 hours AB; 7
days ON MoE
Sulfite–15 mins

TSS/TDS Low or TSS Ultra Trace
145mL hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC TSS Low (LOR 1 mg/L) or Whole TSS low may also be TSS-7 days Green
Bottle TSS requires 145mL hdpe analyzed from 500 mL
or hdpe if volume for Group
TSS Ultra Trace (LOR 0.5 mg/L) is 1 parameters permits.
500mL hdpe (Ontario) required in Ontario only. Please
submit an additional 500mL hdpe for
duplicates.

BOD or CBOD 500mL hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC BOD or CBOD BOD or CBOD-3 days; 48 hours BC Green
P&P+AB; 4 days ON MoE

CHLOROPHYLL-A 15mL opaque tube Nil, Freeze, Keep in dark Chlorophyll a (Field Filtered) Filter minimum 250 mL 28 days Black
sample

CHLOROPHYLL-A 250mL opaque hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC, Keep Chlorophyll a (Field Filtered) Please provide additional 48 hours Black
in dark bottle for duplicates

TOTAL NUTRIENTS 120mL amber glass (H2SO4) 1mL (1:3) Sulfuric acid, Chill Total-N,P,NH3 and TOC,,TKN,COD and 28 days Purple
to ≤10oC Total Phenols

DANGER

DISSOLVED NUTRIENTS 120mL amber glass (H2SO4) 1mL (1:3) Sulfuric acid, Chill Dissolved-N, P, NH3, DOC and DKN Field filtration is recom- 28 days Purple
to ≤10oC mended for Dissolved
Parameters
DANGER

TOTAL SULFIDE 145mL hdpe (Zn(OAC)2+NaOH) 1 mL 2N Zinc acetate + 2 mL Total Sulfide Tick the Total Sulfide 7 days Pink
6N Sodium hydroxide, Chill checkbox on the bottle
to ≤10oC label.
DANGER

Sample Collection Guide

P3
... continued from previous page

Column Header Sample Container
DISSOLVED SULFIDE 145mL hdpe (Zn(OAC)2+NaOH)
and
300mL hdpe (NaOH+AlCl3)
Preservation
I mL 2N Zinc acetate + 2 mL
6N Sodium hydroxide and 6N
Sodium Hydroxide + 2.9 M Alu-
minum chloride, Chill to ≤10oC
GHS of classification Test Parameter(s) Notes Holding Times
and labelling of
chemicals
Dissolved Sulfide (Field Prep – Add sample to Aluminum 7 days PINK
Flocculation) chloride dosed 300 mL BOD
DANGER bottle, wait for 5 to 15 minutes,
then decant the supernatant
info the 145mL sulfide bottle
and tick the dissolved checkbox
on the label.

CYANATE 2 x 145 mL hdpe (NaOH) 2 x 1mL 6N Sodium hydroxide, Cyanate 14 days DARK GREEN
Chill to ≤10oC
DANGER

CYANIDE 60mL UV-inhibited hdpe (NaOH) 0.5mL 6N Sodium hydroxide, Total, Free and WAD Cyanide 14 days DARK GREEN
Chill to ≤10oC, Keep in dark
DANGER

THIOCYANATE 60mL hdpe (HNO3) 0.8mL (1:4) Nitric acid, Chill Thiocyanate 14 days WARM RED
to ≤10oC Tick the Total Metals checkbox
DANGER on the bottle label.

METALS 60mL hdpe (HNO3) 0.8mL (1:4) Nitric acid, Chill Metals Total or Dissolved(Field Field filtration is recommended 180 days WARM RED
to ≤10oC Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
DANGER Tick the appropriate checkbox
on the bottle label

MERCURY 40mL glass (HCl) 0.3mL (1:1) Hydrochloric acid, Mercury Total or Dissolved(Field Field filtration is recommended 28 days YELLOW
Chill to ≤10oC Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
DANGER Tick the appropriate checkbox
on the bottle label

METALS 60mL hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Metals Total or Dissolved(Field Field filtration is recommended 180 days RED/GREEN
Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
LOW METALS Tick the appropriate checkbox Bottle will be acidified upon
on the bottle label receipt in the lab.

ROUTINE MERCURY 40mL glass Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Routine Mercury Total or Field filtration is recommended 28 days RED/GREEN
Dissolved (Field Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
Tick the appropriate checkbox Bottle will be acidified upon
on the bottle label receipt in the lab.

LOW MERCURY 125mL Teflon™ or glass Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Low Level Mercury Total or Field filtration is recommended 28 days RED/GREEN
Dissolved (Field Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
Tick the appropriate checkbox Bottle will be acidified upon
on the bottle label receipt in the lab.

UT MERCURY 125mL Teflon™ or glass (pre- Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Ultra-Trace (UT) Mercury Total or Field filtration is recommended 28 days RED/GREEN
cleaned) Dissolved (Field Filtered) for Dissolved Parameters
Tick the appropriate checkbox Bottle will be acidified upon
on the bottle label receipt in the lab.

METHYL MERCURY 125mL Teflon™ (HCl) – freshwa- 1mL (1:1) Hydrochloric acid, Methyl Mercury Total or Field filtration is recommended 180 days YELLOW
ter or (H2SO4 ) - seawater Chill to ≤10oC Dissolved for Dissolved Parameters
METHYL MERCURY or DANGER Tick the appropriate checkbox Freshwaters should be pre-
0.5mL (1:3) Sulfuric acid, Chill on the bottle label served with hydrochloric acid
to ≤10oC Seawaters (>500 ppm chloride
or >1 ‰ salinity) should be
preserved with sulfuric acid

Sample Collection Guide

P4
... continued from previous page

Column Header Sample Container Preservation GHS of classification Test Parameter(s) Notes Holding Times
and labelling of
chemicals
FERROUS IRON 40mL glass (HCl) 0.3mL (1:1) Hydrochloric acid, DANGER Ferrous Iron (Field Filtered) Field filtration is recommended 7 days – if field filtered using YELLOW
Chill to ≤10oC Tick the Ferrous Iron (Field 0.45 μm filters
Filtered) checkbox on the bottle 180 days - if field filtered using
label 0.1μm filters

SELENIUM SPECIATION 60mL opaque hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC, Keep in dark Selenium Speciation (Field Field filtration is recommended 28 days GREEN
Filtered)

ARSENIC SPECIATION 60mL opaque hdpe (EDTA/ 0.6mL 0.25M EDTA + 0.6mL 8M Arsenic Speciation (Field Field filtration is recommended 28 days CHERRY
Acetic acid) Acetic acid, Chill to ≤10oC, Keep Filtered)
in dark DANGER

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM 60mL hdpe (NaOH) 0.5mL 6N Sodium hydroxide, Hexavalent Chromium (Field Field filtration is recommended 28 days DARK GREEN
Chill to ≤10oC Filtered)
DANGER Tick the appropriate checkbox
on the bottle label

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM 60mL hdpe [NaOH/(NH4)2SO4/ 0.4mL 5N Sodium hydroxide + Hexavalent Chromium (Field Field filtration is recommended 28 days DARK GREEN
NH4OH] 0.6 mL buffer (Ammonium sul- Filtered)
fate + Ammonium hydroxide), DANGER Tick the appropriate checkbox
Chill to ≤10oC on the bottle label

RADIOCHEMISTRY 1 L hdpe (HNO3) 9 mL (1:4) Nitric acid, Chill to Gross alpha/beta or Radium 226 For faster TAT for Radium 226 180 days WARM RED
≤10oC please provide additional 1L
DANGER hdpe bottle.

VOC 2 x 40mL glass vials (NaHSO4) 0.2g Sodium bisulfate, Chill to F1,VH,VPH,BTEX,VOC,THM,VFAs, For chlorinated waters, sodium 14 days BLUE
VOC-chlorinated ≤10oC 1,4-Dioxane,Cl-Aromatics thiosulfate preservative is
DANGER recommended and label colour
will be cyan.
Fill with zero headspace
Total VFA test in Ontario
requires 250mL hdpe or glass
(NaHSO4)

C1-C5 GASES 2 x 40mL glass blue septa vials 0.2g Sodium bisulfate, Chill to C1-C5 gases Fill with zero headspace. 14 days BLUE
(NaHSO4) ≤10oC
DANGER

ALDEHYDES 2 x 40mL glass vials (NH4Cl+- 20mg Ammonium Chloride + Formaldehyde Fill with zero headspace. 7 days BROWN
CuSO4) 20mg Copper sulfate, Chill to
≤10oC WARNING

HALOACETIC ACIDS 2 x 40mL glass vials (NH4Cl) 4 mg Ammonium Chloride, Chill Haloacetic acids Fill with zero headspace. 14 days BROWN
to ≤10oC
WARNING

HYDROCARBONS 2 x 100mL amber glass/Teflon™
lined cap (NaHSO4)
0.2g Sodium bisulfate, Chill to EPH,LEPH/HEPH,F2-F4,PAHs Fill to the neck of the bottle. 14 days BLUE
≤10oC If sample volume is limited,
DANGER VOCs can also be tested from
this bottle. In this case, fill
bottle to the top with zero
headspace and submit 2 x
100mL amber glass.

PHENOLICS 2 x 500mL amber glass/Teflon™ 0.2g Sodium bisulfate, Chill to Phenolics, Chlorinated and 14 days BLUE
lined cap (NaHSO4) ≤10oC Non-chlorinated
DANGER

Sample Collection Guide

P5
... continued from previous page

Column Header Sample Container Preservation GHS of classifica- Test Parameter(s) Notes Holding Times
tion and labelling
of chemicals
ALCOHOLS + GLYCOLS (PMS 2 x 40mL glass vials Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Alcohols and glycols 7 days ORANGE
1375/57716)

SPECIALTY ORGANICS I (PMS 2 x 1L amber glass/Teflon™ Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Dioxins/Furans,PBDE,PBB or D/F/PBDE/PBB-Unlimited ORANGE
1375/57717) lined cap Explosives or EPA 625 SVOC Explosives-7 days
or Alkylated PAH and PANH Alkylated PAH/PANH-14 days
or NDMA NDMA-7 days

NAPHTHENIC ACID/SOIL STERIL- 2x 250mL amber glass/Teflon™ Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Naphthenic Acid or Soil Naphthenic acid-14 days ORANGE
ANTS (PMS 1375/57718 lined cap Sterilants Soil sterilants-7 days

SPECIALTY ORGANICS II (Cool 60mL hdpe (Teflon™ free) Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Hormones/Steroids or PPCPs/ PPCPs/Hormones-28 days GREY
Gray 5/57719) Neonicotinoids

SPECIALTY ORGANICS III (Cool 125mL hdpe (Teflon™ free) Nil, Chill to ≤10oC PFAS Please submit an additional PFAS-28 days GREY
Gray 5/57719) 125mL for low level.

ORGANOTINS (PMS 250mL opaque hdpe Nil, Freeze, Keep in dark Organotins (MBT,DBT,TBT) 28 days if frozen within 72 BLACK
BLACK/57715) hours of sampling.
7 days if unpreserved

ALDICARB/DIURON (PMS 60mL amber glass/Teflon™ 10mg Sodium thiosulfate, Chill Aldicarb/Diuron 7 days CYAN
CYAN/57712) lined cap (Na2S2O3) to ≤10oC

SPECIALTY ORGANICS IV (PMS 60mL hdpe (Na2S2O3) 10mg Sodium thiosulfate, Chill Diquat/Paraquat and Glypho- 14 days CYAN
CYAN57713) to ≤10oC sate/AMPA

MICROBIOLOGY (PMS 250mL Sterile hdpe (Na2S2O3) 30mg Sodium thiosulfate (pen- E. coli/Fecal/Total Coliforms E. coli/Coliforms-30 hours;48 CYAN
CYAN/57714) tahydrate), Chill to ≤10oC (Colilert) or HPC or Pseudo- hours ON MoE
monas aeruginosa (MF) and HPC-24 hours;48 hours ON MoE
Enterococcus Pseudomonas-30 hours
Entercoccus-30 hours

RESIN & FATTY ACIDS (PMS 2 x 500mL amber glass 0.25g Ascorbic acid+ 0.2g Sodi- Resin and Fatty Acids 14 days DARK BLUE
662/57723) (C6H8O6+NaOH) um hydroxide, Chill to ≤10oC
DANGER

TOXICOLOGY (PMS Cool Gray 100mL amber glass Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Microtox 3 days GREY
5/52417)

TOXICOLOGY (PMS Cool Gray 1-2 x 1L hdpe Nil, Chill to ≤10oC Daphnia magna LC50 (2x1L) or LC50 requires 2 x 1L hdpe 5 days GREY
5/52417) Daphnia magna Pass/Fail (1x1L) Pass/Fail requires 1 x 1L hdpe

Sample Collection Guide

P6