Soil, Water and Air Sampling and Quality Analysis

Soil, Water and Air Sampling and Quality Analysis

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Field Sampling (in-situ analysis)

As an (or potential) environmental scientist, one of the things that you may be doing from time to time is carry out environmental field study or sampling on different regions of interests. So you ought to have a  little knowledge of doing sampling. In most cases the environmental components usually checked includes:

1.  Soil
2. Water
3. Air.

The study involves the collection of samples for analysis from these components. The purpose of taking these analyses is to check for the presence of foreign elements and their impacts to the environment with respect to the three different components or parameters.

Soil Analysis

• The aim of this exercise is to carry out chemical analysis of the soil for its components and identification of the vegetation whose growth is supported in this region.
• As well as to determine the type of soil and kind of vegetation that can be cultivated.

 

Soil Sampling for Soil Analysis

Procedures:

 Soil samples are collected from about five (5) locations within the area premises usually by a group.

The soil samples are collected from areas still in its natural form, i.e. areas unhampered with, be it by farming activities, urbanization and construction activities, etc.

Soil samples are collected using the Soil Grab. The point of collection was slightly cleared using a hand Trowel and the Soil grab was plunged in. The top soil sample was collected at 5m deep and put in a nylon bag which was labeled. Then the bottom layer was collected at 10m deep and put in another bag which was also labeled.

Vegetation Identified Thriving In Location Studied

• Plantain
• Cassava (Manihot spp)
• Oil palm (Elaeis guineesis)
• Elephant grass (Pennistrum purpureum)
• Yam (Discorea spp)
• Pawpaw (Ciraca papaya)
• Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersion)
• Banana (Musa paradiscum)
• Green Vegetable (Amaranthus spp), etc.

Water Analysis

The aim of this analysis is to study the physical, chemical and biological parameters of water from a river for an anomaly and causative agents, its effects as well as possible remedy.

Water Sampling for Analysis

For the stake of this study, water samples were collected from the Warri River near the Ugbmorro/Agbarho shore. Water was collected using a white plastic bottle while indicator species, composed mainly on planktons (microphytes and macrophytes) was collected using a sieve.

The water analysis was carried out in-situ. The following parameters usually checked under water analysis includes:

• GPS coordinates (Northings, Easting and Altitude).
• Electric conductivity (EC)
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
• Hydrogen ion concentration (pH)
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Readings obtained are given in the table below:

Sample	Northings	Easting	Altitude	pH	EC	TDS	DO
1	05° 35' 87.8''	005° 50' 32.9''	0.3m	5.62 at 25°C	53 (31.4°C)	98 at 32.1°C	31.1 at 47.1°C
2	05° 33' 50.6''	005° 50' 22.9''	3ft	5.50 (25°C)	773 (29.8°C)	393ppm (30.2°C)	24.5 (29.7°C
3	05° 33' 5.8''	005° 50' 22.8''	3m	5.6	46 (31.1°C)	19 (31.1°C)	74 (33.3°C)

Some calculations are usually carried out after gaining the values for each parameters recorded on the table. remember when we listed Maths as one of the fields tapped into by Environmental Science? Well I guess now you can see why.

 

Mean = ∑Fx/n

Mean pH = 5.62+5.50+5.6   = 5.57

                               3

Mean EC = 53+773+46   = 290.67 ppm

                               3

Mean TDS = 98+393+19   = 170

                               3

Mean DO = 31.1+24.5+74   = 43.03

                               3

Air Quality Assessment

To determine air quality, we have to check the concentration of certain gases (indicator species). This can be done using a well calibrated VOC meter. It should be noted that temperature can slightly affect the readings gotten from the VOC meter.

VOC Meter

Air quality analysis is usually carried out in-situ at commendably Four (4) different locations using a VOC meter. The parameters checked for includes:

•  GPS coordinates
• CO2
• VOC
• H2S.

Readings obtained from a random study is presented in the table below:

Location	Northings	Easting	Altitude	CO2	VOC	H2S
1	05° 34' 50.6"	005° 50' 29"	9 ft	0	0.0	0
2	05° 34' 58.9''	005° 51' 15.2''	9ft	1	0.0	0
3	05° 34' 14.3''	005° 48' 34.4''	9ft	0	0.0	0
4	05° 34' 20.6''	005° 48' 44.9''	9ft	0	0.0	0

Don't shy away from doing field studies and sampling. Join a group or team to take exploits and take environmental monitoring field analysis so that you can build yourself to become a better and resourceful environmental scientist.  Believe me, the expeditions can be fun and is usually worth it.

Photos credits (In order of Appearance):

1. National Reconnaissance of Emerging Contaminants - Environmental Occurrence: https://toxics.usgs.gov/regional/emc/environmental_occurrence.html
2. Finding ‘aww’-worthy fawns in Wisconsin’s forests is tricky, but worth it – TwinCities.com
3. Environmental Scientist: www.eco.ca/career-profiles/environmental-scientist/
4. VOC Meter Air Quality Instrument - amazon.com