BS ISO 15800:2019
Soil quality. Characterization of soil with respect to human exposure
| Standard number: | BS ISO 15800:2019 |
| Pages: | 46 |
| Released: | 2019-09-05 |
| ISBN: | 978 0 580 51843 0 |
| Status: | Standard |
BS ISO 15800:2019 - Soil Quality: Characterization of Soil with Respect to Human Exposure
Standard Number: BS ISO 15800:2019
Pages: 46
Released: 2019-09-05
ISBN: 978 0 580 51843 0
Status: Standard
Overview
The BS ISO 15800:2019 is a comprehensive standard that provides guidelines for the characterization of soil quality with a focus on human exposure. This standard is essential for professionals in environmental science, public health, and land management, offering a structured approach to assessing soil quality and its potential impacts on human health.
Purpose and Importance
Soil is a critical component of our ecosystem, influencing food production, water quality, and biodiversity. However, soil can also be a medium for contaminants that pose risks to human health. The BS ISO 15800:2019 standard addresses these concerns by providing a framework for evaluating soil quality in relation to human exposure. This is crucial for ensuring safe land use, particularly in areas designated for agriculture, residential, or recreational purposes.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Guidelines: The standard offers detailed procedures for soil sampling, analysis, and interpretation of results, ensuring a thorough assessment of soil quality.
- Human Health Focus: Emphasizes the evaluation of soil contaminants that could affect human health, providing a basis for risk assessment and management.
- International Applicability: As an ISO standard, it is recognized globally, facilitating international collaboration and consistency in soil quality assessments.
- Up-to-date Information: Released in 2019, it incorporates the latest scientific research and technological advancements in soil analysis.
Who Should Use This Standard?
The BS ISO 15800:2019 is an invaluable resource for a wide range of professionals, including:
- Environmental Scientists: For conducting soil assessments and developing strategies to mitigate contamination risks.
- Public Health Officials: To understand the potential health impacts of soil contaminants and develop public health policies.
- Land Use Planners: For making informed decisions about land development and management.
- Regulatory Bodies: To establish guidelines and regulations for soil quality and safety.
Benefits of Using BS ISO 15800:2019
Implementing the guidelines of the BS ISO 15800:2019 standard offers numerous benefits, including:
- Enhanced Safety: By identifying and managing soil contaminants, the standard helps protect human health and safety.
- Environmental Protection: Promotes sustainable land use practices that preserve soil health and biodiversity.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assists organizations in meeting national and international soil quality regulations.
- Informed Decision-Making: Provides reliable data for making evidence-based decisions regarding land use and management.
Conclusion
The BS ISO 15800:2019 standard is an essential tool for anyone involved in soil quality assessment and management. By providing a clear and structured approach to evaluating soil with respect to human exposure, it ensures that soil-related decisions are informed, safe, and sustainable. Whether you are an environmental scientist, public health official, or land use planner, this standard will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to protect human health and the environment.
BS ISO 15800:2019
This standard BS ISO 15800:2019 Soil quality. Characterization of soil with respect to human exposure is classified in these ICS categories:
- 13.080.99 Other standards related to soil quality
This document provides guidance on the type and extent of soil characterization necessary for the evaluation of human exposure to substances present in possibly leading to adverse effects.
It does not provide guidance on:
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the design or selection of numerical models that can be used to estimate exposure;
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potential exposure to radioactivity, pathogens or asbestos in soil.
Background information is provided on human health related to exposure to soil and the influence on exposure via different pathways.
For convenience â??soilâ?? in this document also includes â??soil materialâ?? unless stated otherwise.
Overall exposure can be due to potentially harmful substances (PHSs) in soil, groundwater and air. Exposure to those in soil can be direct (e.g. through inhalation, ingestion, cutaneous contact), or indirect (through the consumption of plants or animals that have taken up substances of concern).
The evaluation of the possible impact on human health of potentially harmful substances is most commonly required when these are present as a result of human activity (e.g. on old industrial sites) but can sometimes be required when they are present naturally.
Soil characterization precedes the assessment of the compatibility between soil and its use (i.e. soil quality assessment). Tools such as a conceptual site model (CSM) and health risk assessment can be used to aid this assessment.
Soil characterization can be used to develop an overview of population exposure to soil. Other International Standards are available that can aid the characterization of other media (e.g. surface and groundwater), in terms of their possible adverse effects on humans.