A proposed new ASTM International standard will fill a need for a reliable method for measuring beryllium at various levels in soil samples that does not require the use of aggressive digestion methods involving strong acids. The proposed standard, WK17600, Test Method for Determination of Beryllium in Soil, Rock, Sediment and Fly Ash Using Field-Based Extraction and Fluorescence Detection, is being developed by Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and Subsurface Characterization, which is part of ASTM International Committee D18 on Soil and Rock.

According to Michael Brisson, senior technical advisor, Washington Savannah River Company, and secretary of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality, WK17600 will be used by environmental and industrial hygiene laboratories to determine levels of beryllium in soil to support environmental remediation projects and to determine background beryllium levels at industrial sites.

Brisson notes that WK17600 is an adaptation of D 7202, Test Method for Determination of Beryllium in the Workplace Using Field-Based Extraction and Fluorescence Detection, a standard under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D22.04 on Workplace Air Quality.

For further technical information, contact Michael Brisson, Washington Savannah River Company, Aiken, S.C. (phone: 803/952-4400; mike.brisson@srs.gov). Committee D18 meets Jan. 27-Feb. 1 at the January committee week in Tampa, Fla. For membership or meeting information, contact Robert Morgan, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9732; rmorgan@astm.org).

Release #7869