What is ISO 17616 - Ecotoxicological characterization of soil about?
ISO 17616 is an international standard that discusses soil quality with a focus on the guidance of choice and evaluation of bioassays for characterization. ISO 17616 is one of the family of standards (ISO 15799, ISO 19204) that provides guidance on the characterization of soils and soil materials in relation to their retention and habitat functions and uses. It is appropriate to use it in conjunction with the two other standards in this family.
ISO 17616 provides guidance on the choice and evaluation of tests applied for ecotoxicological characterization of soils and soil materials. Recommendations for test strategies with respect to the protection of ground and surface waters and the maintenance of the habitat function of soil are included. The tests recommended, represent a minimum test battery that is complemented by additional tests or even is replaced by others, according to the intended uses or protection goals envisaged.
Note: The effect values indicated in ISO 17616 do not refer to regulation but represent the lowest level at which an adverse effect is considered likely to occur.
Who is ISO 17616 - Ecotoxicological characterization of soil for?
ISO 17616 on the ecotoxicological characterization of soil is useful for:
- Ecologists and conservationists
- Soil testing laboratories
- Landowners
Why should you use ISO 17616 - Ecotoxicological characterization of soil?
An assessment strategy giving instructions for the choice and evaluation of test results is hence proposed. The evaluation of the bioassays outcome is based on empirically-derived critical dilution levels that take into account the sensitivity of the test system and the intended use/re-use of the site under investigation.
ISO 17616 provides guidance on the selection of experimental methods for the assessment of the ecotoxic potential of soils and soil materials like, excavated, and remediated soils, refills, embankments) with respect to their intended use or re-use, and possible adverse effects on aquatic and soil-dwelling organisms.
ISO 17616 provides an approach that intends to contribute to an effective and comparable assessment within the ecotoxicological characterization of contaminated soil or soil materials. The test systems included in this approach are not mandatory and may be replaced or accomplished by other test methods.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 17616:2019 supersedes ISO 17616:2008, which is withdrawn. BS ISO 17616:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to ISO 17616:2008. These include:
- Definitions for “soil use” and “ecosystem service” have been added to Clause 3
- Endpoints of ecotoxicity tests (e.g., mortality, reproduction, growth, genotoxicity, and other functional activities), as well as the overall principles and application of test batteries have been clarified in Clause 4
- Sub-chronic toxicity tests have been added
- Figure 1 was revised
- Tables 1 and 2 (test batteries for retention and habitat function assessment, respectively) have been revised (test categories, test organisms added/deleted, references updated)