There are several types of environmental sampling, each tailored to specific media and objectives:
1. Air Sampling: Involves collecting air samples to measure the concentration of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals. Techniques include passive sampling, active sampling, and real-time monitoring. 2. Water Sampling: Collects samples from surface water, groundwater, or drinking water sources to analyze for contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. Methods include grab sampling, composite sampling, and automated sampling. 3. Soil Sampling: Involves collecting soil samples to detect contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Techniques include random sampling, systematic sampling, and stratified sampling. 4. Biota Sampling: Collects samples from living organisms, such as plants and animals, to assess bioaccumulation of toxins. This type of sampling is crucial for studying the impact of contaminants on wildlife and food chains.
