Inorganic parameters

An important element in assuring the collected sample representativeness is the use of sample containers that sustain sample integrity. We collect water samples for VOC analysis in 40-ml VOA vials with screw-on PTFE-lined silicon rubber septum caps. The PTFE liner of the septum should always face down to contact the water. Water samples for SVOC analyses are collected into 1-liter amber glass bottles with PTFE-lined lids. Samples for metal and inorganic parameter analysis are placed either into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or glass bottles. 

Soil samples for VOC analysis are collected into airtight coring devices or into preserved VOA vials. Soil samples for SVOC, metal, and inorganic parameter analyses are collected into brass or stainless steel core barrel liners, acrylic liners, or into glass jars with PTFE-lined lids. The liners are capped with PTFE sheets and plastic caps. 

TABLE 15.2. Typical Limits of Detection and Standards of Quality, as Defined by U.S. FDA, of Secondary Inorganic Parameters for Commercial Bottled Waters ... 

Further work is required in order to confirm the intuitively reasonable belief that a more composite measure, such as the DS of plaque fluid calculated by Margolis et al. and discussed in section 6.2, is a more applicable (inorganic) parameter for assessing, for example, caries risk. To date, little work has been done and those studies that have been reported have, for practical reasons, invariably used small numbers of subjects and often pooled plaque samples. The availability of semi-automated micro-analytical techniques, such as capillary electrophoresis, and the development of micro-electrodes, for example, those ofVogel et al., should enable researchers to analyse site-specific samples more easily. 

A number of different water quality parameters such as concentration (and type) of DOC, pH, salinity and sub-optimal or insuflficient concentrations of specific ions or minerals could affect the biotic responses to UVR. The presence of DOC is in most cases the main determinant of UV attenuation and effects on freshwater metazoans (see Chapter 3), and yet increased DOC also yields increased production of ambient free radicals and oxidants the net effect on the biota is in general positive. The role of inorganic parameters is less well known. Under laboratory conditions, swollen body tissue may be observed in UV treated freshwater invertebrates animals, which could indicate osmotic disorder [15]. This could indicate that ionic content or salinity per se could be one determinant to UV tolerance, but Hessen [15] found no effect of salinity in the range from 250 to 1000 pScm in D. pulex exposed to artificial UVR (peak wavelength 312 nm). 

However, environmental investigations on landfill derived groundwater contamination used frequently inorganic parameters for monitoring proposes (e.g. Murray et al. 1981 Looser et al. 1999 Vilomet et al., in press). These parameters include concentration of nonmetal anionic species (chloride, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, borate etc.), heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Fe etc.) as well as alkali and alkaline earth metals (K, Na, Mg, Ca etc.). 

Additionally, common inorganic parameters were determined and are presented also in Tab. 2. 

Tab. 2 Samples and corresponding inorganic parameter provided by the engineering consultant GeoBit (Aachen).

Block 1 - important inorganic parameters with relevance to the enviromnent, e.g. nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, boron, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal (e.g. potassium, calcium, magnesium). 

New materials are necessary to characterize the inorganic parameters associated with the highly conducting materials as well as to understand the physics of one dimension (2,3, 5, 6). 

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