Incremental sampling methodology (ISM) is a structured composite sampling and processing protocol that reduces data variability and provides a reasonably unbiased estimate of mean contaminant concentrations in a volume of soil targeted for sampling. The methodology has become increasingly common for assessing soil contaminants in the environmental field.
Building on the original Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM-1, 2012) guidance and subsequent Clarifications to ITRC 2012 ISM-1 Guidance (2020), this Incremental Sampling Methodology Update (ISM-2, 2020) includes advancements in technology, lessons learned from field applications, and expanded regulatory experience. The guidance provides practitioners with recommendations for planning, collecting, processing, and interpreting incremental samples to obtain more representative and reproducible data.
Topic(s): Incremental Sampling Methodology, Remediation Technologies, Sediments, Soil Background, Soils
