Biological Hazards and Environmental Field Work: Snakes

If you’ve ever had to do environmental fieldwork, then you know that there are biological dangers involved, including spiders, snakes, scorpions, alligators, snapping turtles, wasps, mosquitoes large enough to carry off chihuahuas, and the occasional field partner that forgets to wear deodorant.

I’ve come across my fair share of these hazards, and although I’ve never ended up in the back of an ambulance, merely being in the presence of some of these creatures was enough to make me tear off in the opposite direction, arms flailing about like those inflatable dancing men outside of car dealerships and screaming like a banshee.

I’m absolutely sure this is not what my site-specific health and safety plan told me to do, but fear and subsequent pig-being-chased-squealing comes from a lack of preparedness. So, in an effort to help you be more prepared, and so that your co-workers aren’t able to blackmail you in the future for such behavior, let’s take a look at one of these hazards that are found in the United States – venomous snakes – and what you should do if you come into contact with them.

There are four types of venomous snakes in the US (rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, and coral snake), with 20 sub-species in different geographical areas, climates, and habitats. Rattlesnakes will avoid wide open spaces and will generally avoid humans if they are aware of their approach.  Of the venomous species, the copperhead and cottonmouth are likely to strike first with the least amount of provocation.  Coral snakes are shy and will almost always flee before they bite.  That said, if you are bitten, get help immediately.  Coral snake venom is extremely potent, and although it's possible you will not notice visible fang marks or swelling, your nervous system will be under attack.  King snakes can mimic the coral snake, so make sure to learn the difference.  "Red next to black is a friend of Jack, red next to yellow will kill a fellow!"  Even if snakes are believed dead, exercise caution, as heads can see, flick the tongue, and inflict venomous bites for up to an hour after being severed from the body!

Rattlesnake	Copperhead	Cottonmouth	Coral Snake

What to do if you or someone else is bitten by a snake

• Try to see or remember the color and shape of the snake (because it’s not like you have anything else on your mind). A great resource for identifying various snakes and other creatures you might encounter in the field is www.eNature.com.
• Keep the bitten person still and calm. This can slow down the spread of venom. Don’t feel bad when the person hits you upside the head for telling him/her to stay calm.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible/dial 911.
• Apply first aid if you cannot get the person to the hospital right away.
• Lay or sit the person down with the bite below the level of the heart.
• Tell the person to avoid walking into any bright white lights he/she may be seeing.
• Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing (please note the clean/dry part, as this is not a moment to MacGyver some sort of dressing out of fell-on-the-floor-of-a-Port-o-Potty toilet paper or leaves, particularly the three-pointed leaflet variety).

What NOT to do if you or someone else is bitten by a snake

• Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it unless you are a masochist.
• Do not apply a tourniquet.
• Do not slash the wound with a knife (duh).
• Do not suck out the venom (mmmm…).
• Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
• Absolutely do NOT try to lighten the mood by singing songs like "Who Let the Dogs Out", "Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It", "She Bangs", or "Rico Suave". 
• Do not drink alcohol as a pain killer. You shouldn’t have alcohol (other than the rubbing kind) in your field truck anyway.
• Do not drink caffeinated beverages (no stopping for a Venti Latte on the way to the hospital).

Have you ever encountered biological hazards in your job? If so, we’d love to hear your story.

Electronic Chain of Custody Forms: How Much Can You Save?

Wishful Thinking

At some point in our lives, we all do it.  We drive past a lottery billboard in one state or the other, turn to the people in the car, and talk “what-would-you-do”. 

“I’d buy one of those really expensive hairless rat-dogs.”

“I’d pretend I was a contestant on Supermarket Sweep and fill up my cart with hams.”   

“I’d pay off all of my loans and then buy each of my siblings a house far, far, far away from me.”

“I’d solve world hunger and eradicate Elephantitis.”  (Showoff)

The thought of an unexpected windfall is exciting!  From finding spare change under couch cushions; discovering a few bucks in the Winter coat that’s hung in the back of the closet all Spring, Summer, and Fall; and buying up a secondhand purse at Goodwill only to find a $10 bill in the lining -- there’s just nothing like it. 

Brooding in the Board Room

In the business world, and specifically in the environmental laboratory industry, folks are concerned about the bottom line.  The President sits in meetings with the I’m-not-sure-what-they-do Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Corporate Vice President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President, a sprinkling of officers, and maybe a few laboratory directors to determine what action needs to be taken in order to land that windfall for the company, and they, too, talk “what-would-you-do.”

 “We could expand our volatiles department.”

“Ooooh, I’d buy a new gas chromatograph with a headspace sampler.”

“I’d buy our entire field services department Trimble Yumas with Windows 8 for field data collection!”

But securing a windfall isn’t that easy in this economy.  Laboratories are forced to drop their prices in order to compete on fixed-priced contracts.   Analyses like VOCs, which used to run $80-$100 several years ago, are quoted at $60-70 each.  Profit margins are getting slimmer and slimmer.   So the folks in the conference room have to figure out another way, which often involves cutting costs.  Cost cutting may mean no bonuses, layoffs, perhaps no more coffee provided in the break room (it sucked anyway).  One way, however, that isn’t considered very often is how to correct the inefficiencies in day to day laboratory operations. 

Manual Data Entry of CoCs is Inefficient and Costs Real Money

Let’s say that your lab receives an average of 100 coolers a day from FedEx.  Each of these coolers contains a paper chain of custody (considered one sample delivery group) that has to be manually logged in by cooler receipt / log-in staff.  Most of the chain of custody forms are hand-written, 25% of them are incomplete or have errors, and 15% are nearly illegible in places.  Because of this, it takes both log-in staff and project management extra time to resolve issues – issues that could have been prevented. 

In our research, we’ve determined that the average cost to the laboratory per hand-written chain of custody form is about $5, so about $500 per day in the scenario above. 

A Simple Solution

With ezCoC, chain of custody forms are entered on a mobile device or desktop computer and transmitted electronically (and ahead of the samples – yay proper resource planning!) to the laboratory via pdf and flat files, which can be imported directly into the laboratory LIMS. No more transcription errors, no more incomplete forms, no more wet and soppy mess.  Coolers are identified by a code attached to the electronic chain of custody form, and special ezCoC stickers (like custody seals) are placed on the outside of the coolers.  The cost for an ezCoC chain of custody is $2.  So, in this case, $200 per day.  A difference of $300, or 60%!   Assuming laboratories request that their clients use ezCoC and receive coolers 300 days out of the year, we’re talking approximately $90,000 a year in savings.  Windfall?  Sure feels like it. 

Interested in trying ezCoC out in your laboratory?  Download the “How to Get Started Guide”. Want to learn more, or do you have questions? Register for a free, 30-minute webinar.

 

Seven Keys to Unlocking the LIMS Selection Process

Working for a LIMS provider, I know there are plenty of technical requirements to consider when selecting a LIMS for your lab, but tunnel vision on those technical details can make you miss the forest for the trees. Here are seven keys that provide a unique, non-technical, broader decision-making framework.

1. Choose expertise over experience
Don’t confuse experience with expertise. It isn’t enough that a company has been around for a long time. Look for evidence of deep roots in the laboratory. Lots of software companies claim to know what you need, but few actually have staff that have lived and breathed laboratory operations.

2. Think long-term
You will have this LIMS for 5-10 years. It will become part of your extended family.  Functionality has to be broad enough to address your current needs and flexible enough to meet future needs without a lot of upgrade expense.

3. Look for functionality that directly improves productivity and quality
At the heart of any new LIMS is the ability to improve laboratory productivity and quality management. The system should streamline sample management, automate instrument integration, facilitate compliance, and improve access to information.

4. Search high and low
Consider a broad range of solutions when you are searching for a new LIMS. Even though you may find some systems out-of-reach financially, they will provide a good comparison of value for the other systems you consider.

5. Configurable really does beat custom
The closer you get to off-the-shelf the better you are — assuming that software is well established and configurable. Core LIMS functionality is pretty well understood today, and you should expect a provider to be spreading the costs of standard features across a large customer base. Configurability should enable you to cost-effectively tailor that system to your needs, while customized systems can be expensive, one-of-a-kind solutions.

6. Don’t take their word for it
Plenty of companies sing their own praises. That’s fine — you want them to be proud of their own success. But for the real insights, ask for references. Yes, it seems like a basic step, but many companies do not adequately follow up beyond a quick phone call.

7. Understand implementation and support resources
Any LIMS is a complex solution, and even the best systems require some expertise to implement and maintain. But the more configurable and reliable the product, the less you’re going to rely on implementation project managers and technical support. Likewise, some training is inevitable, but the more intuitive the product, the quicker your staff will come up to speed.

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Guest author Andy Levy writes to us from Promium LLC, a leading provider of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for commercial and public sector testing laboratories. We at ezCoC have partnered with Promium to ensure that our system's EDD formats are compatible with Element LIMS. Current formats include Element ECOC and Element AutoLogExcel.  For more information on Promium, visit www.Promium.com.

 

Environmental Mapping Software: The One-Two Punch

It’s always slightly amusing for me to look back through hardcopy reports and see hand drawn maps that predate yours truly. They are usually not to scale, smudged, somewhat faded and yellow, with lines as straight as Steve Buscemi's teeth.

 

I am so glad there is software to make my life easier (and also to save me from unnecessary humiliation). If I had to hand draw a map, I’m certain that it would be a bit like returning to kindergarten. Back then, I’d run home with a very obvious (to me) picture of a space alien scrawled in green and purple magic marker, only to have my mother say, “What a beautiful flower!” Misinterpreting what is hand drawn for a high profile UST release would have far more dire consequences than a 5-year-old stomping off to his room.

Maps can be complicated, and those of us in the environmental consulting industry are often tasked to use a few known points, which represent monitoring wells, to create an accurate account of groundwater flow direction and contaminant plume distribution.

 

Some of the most comprehensive mapping programs that money can buy include:

• Micro Station
  
• ARC GIS
  
• AutoCAD
  

Down side of these programs?  They are extremely expensive!  And if you aren’t working on a federal contract that dictates a specific graphics package, then why spend so much money on what will eat into your project’s profitability?

For those of you working on projects with slimmer (or nearly nonexistent in this economy) profit margins, there are two software programs I’d like to highlight for the express reason that they can work together to create a one-two punch of aesthetics and accuracy, and they certainly won’t break the bank: Canvas and Surfer.

 

Canvas

Canvas, produced by ACD systems, is marketed as a precision technical illustration tool. It’s quite simple and easy to use. The most current release, Canvas 12, has an optional GIS module.

 

Features include, but are not limited to:

• Technical illustration and enhancement with greater control
• Ability to edit both vector objects and raster images in one environment, at the same time
• Ability to create visuals from both raw and technical data
• Precision drawing
• Ability to draw and edit paths and curve segments using the control points that define them
• Ability to edit object path data
• Ability to apply filters to images, text, and vector objects
• No need to use a separate word processor or layout program
• Different document types for different purposes: Illustration, Publication, Animation, and Presentation
• Seamless integration: ability to import over 100 different file formats, including DICOM, RAW, Binary filters, Scientific Imaging filters, CGM, and DWG (CAD)
• Fits seamlessly into professional AutoCAD5 3D workflows
• Ability to accurately place objects
• Ability to add on-the-fly illustration objects

 

If you are interested in learning more about Canvas (including a 30-day free trial) visit: http://www.acdsee.com.  Cost for a license?  About $600, or $900 with the GIS add-on.

Surfer

Surfer, produced by Golden Software, is a 3D visualization, contouring, and surface modeling program. Its main function is the creation of topographic maps; however, we have also been able to use this software to create contaminant plume maps and groundwater flow maps.

 

Features include, but are not limited to:

• Contour maps
• 3D surface maps
• Shaded relief maps
• Post maps
• 3D wire frame maps
• Vector maps
• Base maps
• Multi-layer maps
• Stacking maps
• Map projections
• Superior gridding

If you are interested in learning more about Surfer (or to try a free demo) visit goldensoftware.com. Cost for a license?  About $700.

 

Using Canvas and Surfer together, you can create detailed, accurate figures, including potentiometric surface maps and contaminant plume maps, in 1 to 2 hours.   

Preserving Probes, Protecting Pockets

 

Rugged, reliable, easy to use, easy to read.  Four ways to describe YSI’s handheld multimeters, like the YSI-556. These may be true, though I do have some other descriptors that would make you think I was talking about Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton: fussy, temperamental, expensive, demanding, fickle, and not to be left out: high maintenance.  Don’t get me wrong, the YSI-556 is way better than the Horiba multimeter that we used to refer to as the “Horrible” during groundwater sampling events, but we realized very quickly with the YSIs, if not properly maintained, they could be relied on...well, about as much as a politician.     

I’ve put together a step by step instruction sheet on how to keep and maintain YSI sensors based on on-site training with a YSI vendor.  

NOTE: These instructions were made specifically for the YSI-556 model. Other models may differ.

Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

1. The sensor is held in by a set screw. Using an allen/hex wrench, unscrew it and take the sensor out.
2. Unscrew the membrane.
3. Remove residual material on the probe using 400 grit damp sandpaper. Use different pieces of sandpaper for the anode (silver) and cathode (gold). Rinse with clean water after sanding, then wipe with a wet paper towel.
4. Fill with an electrolyte solution prior to screwing the membrane back onto the sensor. A small amount of the solution should overflow.  Bubbles will cause artificially low readings.
5. Inspect the plastic cap regularly (every 2-3 weeks) and change if there is a buildup of debris.
6. When reattaching the sensor to the module, make sure that there is no moisture between them. Moisture will cause the sensor to short out.

Conductivity and temperature sensor

1. Remove by inserting the sensor installation tool into one of holes at the base of the sensor and twisting counterclockwise.
2. Wet a cleaning brush with clean water, and insert it into both holes 15-20 times. Twist as you do this.
3. Rinse out each hole with DI water or clean tap water.
4. Blow out the holes with compressed air.
5. Line up the three prongs to reinsert the sensor back into the bulk head. Make sure there is no moisture in between them.

pH and ORP sensor

1. Remove by inserting the sensor installation tool into one of holes at the base of the sensor and twisting counterclockwise.
2. Wipe the glass bulb gently with a cotton swab soaked in clean water. Do not use a dry swab; the static electricity can short out the sensor.
3. Remember to wipe the glass bulb very gently. A new pH probe costs around $300.
4. Use a new dental brush to clean underneath the glass bulb.
5. Make sure there is no moisture between the bulk head and sensor before you screw the sensor back in.

General tips

• Use regular water, not DI water to keep the sensors moist.
• A YSI-5511 kit is a good thing to have, it includes all the equipment necessary to properly maintain the sensors.

 

Pictured Left: The contents of a YSI-5511 maintenance kit.

Sensor Installation/Removal Tool
Cleaning Brush
DO port plug
Hex wrench
O-Rings
Set Screw
Tube of O-Ring Lubricant

 

• Consider getting confidence solution. This is not used to calibrate, but you will be able to see if all your sensors are functioning properly.
• Check out YouTube. YSI has posted a number of videos on YSI maintenance and use.
• Calibration logs - It is important to routinely record the instruments response to calibration standards and/or the confidence solution to help make sure the system response is not degrading (and to show to the visiting EPA official).

For more information and detailed guides on how to maintain a YSI 556 and other pieces of equipment used for environmental data collection, visit YSI’s Resource Library at: http://www.ysi.com/resource-library.php.

 

Environmental Consulting: Forever in the Field

In the environmental consulting world, quite a few positions require extensive travel. When I first started at Terraine, I had to go out in the field for 10 to 12 days at a time approximately every 3 months. Each morning, my partner and I would meet in the hotel lobby around 6:30 am, grab muffins that had a 65-year shelf life, and hop (more like schlump) our butts into the seats of the pick-up that, because of the rain the day before, smelled a bit like wet dog.    

The conversation to the field site was more like coffee-slurp grunting, but after days of working together, it became our own language (translation = shut up, I’m tired).   One month out of the year, field conditions were pleasant, but in other months, it could be down-right miserable. Hot and humid, wet and stormy, nearly freezing (for me, that means 55 degrees), and then there were the other days - you know, hot as hell with a chance of spontaneous (human) combustion. Each day, we’d drag ourselves back to our rooms around 7:00 pm, shower, and collapse on the crunchy I-don’t-want-to-know-what-is-on-this bedspread.

There were pluses of fieldwork, too, but listing those would take away from the tone of my post, so another day…

Anyway, you know as well as I do that environmental sampling field work is both physically and emotionally challenging at times.  Some of you have to leave behind children, significant others, or a dog, and that can be hard!  I’ve heard of folks that have to be out in the field 3 weeks at a time with only several days off before the next 3-week-long event.  I’ve heard of folks that have had to work on the weekend, with no time off upon their return, and then are given a $5 gift card to a coffee shop to say thanks (ouch).

At Terraine, we started off by telling folks that if they worked a weekend, they could “take it back,” meaning they could take those 2 days off at some point the following week. Then, we implemented a non-PTO policy nonpolicy, which basically says, take time off when you need it. So if Franky the Field Fella (big fan of alliteration if you haven’t gotten that by now) goes out in the field for 10 days, including a Saturday and Sunday, and he’s still tired after 2 days off, he can take a third, fourth, or even fifth day.  Because the fact is, if Franky is still tired, got a bad sunburn, or just needs a break, he’s not going to be productive in the office anyway, and he’ll respect management for recognizing that.

What are your thoughts on how extensive field events should be handled?  How much time off should salaried employees be entitled to if they work 70 hours a week over 3 weeks? Should those positions that require extensive field work like field technician, environmental scientist, and project geologist be paid based on number of hours worked? Should folks at least be able to take their weekends back? What are the policies (or non-policies) where you work on extensive field efforts?

The Skinny on Water Level Indicators

If you’ve worked on a government task order as a project manager, you understand that approximately every 3 to 5 years, contracts change hands.  Some of you have probably been fortunate (no sarcasm here, of course) to be responsible for taking over the contracts, including obtaining and organizing historical documentation from the incumbent. Perhaps you’ve had new sites that require low flow groundwater sampling.  For those sites, you know that the well construction information is extremely important to provide to your field staff prior to mobilization.  You pass along the data to your field tech and rest easy knowing that you’ve done your job well.

Yet when field tech Fred pulls up his F-150 to the first well at the new site, he realizes that although he has records of all of the wells being 2 inches in diameter, over half are much smaller.  So on Day 1, poor field tech Fred has to pump as s…l…o…w… as he possibly can because his water level indicator probe is too fat to slip past his tubing, and he has no earthly idea if the water level is stable.  Fred sits on his sample cooler, red-faced, with steam shooting from his ears because he realizes it’ll take 1.5 days to get another water level indicator shipped to him, and now he’s gonna miss the National Hot Dog Eating Competition on ESPN because he’ll STILL be sampling on Saturday.  He then, not knowing that it was the historical data that was incorrect, mutters four letter words and your name (yes, in the same sentence) under his breath.

But fear not, you can prevent a situation like this.  Here are a few water level indicators specifically designed for those hard to reach places, with a few important items to note.  Click on the image of each model for a spec sheet with more information!

 

SOLINST MODEL 102 WATER LEVEL INDICATOR

Select either a 1/4-inch diameter probe or a 3/8-inch diameter probe.  The coaxial cable is fitted with segmented weights for flexibility.  Markings are laser etched.  Nice! 

Approximate Cost:

100 ft - $345

200 ft - $385

300 ft - $445

Carrying bag not included (Boo). 

 

GEOTECH ET PORTABLE WATER LEVEL METER

Comes with a 3/8-inch diameter probe (as an option), though the probe is not field serviceable.  We’ve had great success with Geotech equipment, and customer service is outstanding.   Their equipment is so durable, after placing your equipment safely in the bed of your truck, you could forget to close the tailgate, drag it 500 yards and through a swamp, and it would all still work (complete exaggeration, do not try in office/in field/at home unless you want to be called a complete moron by those who know you). 

Approximate Cost:

100 ft - $550

200 ft - $670

300 ft - $795

Carrying bag not included.  I mean, what is that about, Solinst and Geotech?!  To me, this is like buying milk without a jug, chips without a bag, eggs without a carton, yogurt without a cup…

 

HERON WATER LEVEL INDICATORS

The Dipper-T

Wowzas – a 5-year warranty!  Often, warranties are only a year or two!  Geotech and Solinst take note: It comes with its own bag.  There is an optional 3/8” probe (instead of the 5/8” size), but it is not submersible, which means you can only tag the top of the water, not submerge it under.  Who the heck thought THAT was a good idea?  Good thing there’s a warranty.

Approximate Cost:

100 ft - $571

200 ft - $680

300 ft - $818

 

The Little Dipper

3-year warranty!  Lightweight, and easy to transport!  Again, it comes with a handy dandy bag. Same problem as the Dipper-T regarding the smaller probe, and it is only 75 feet in length. 

Approximate Cost: $422

 

 

 

 

Project managers, I hope that this list helps you navigate the world of water level indicators if you are in the market, and field techs…well, I hope you never miss watching a pint-size wonder stuff her face again. 

 

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Ben Franklin

Are Pocket PCs Slowing Down Your Sampling Data Collection?

I tried to collect environmental data electronically once in 2009. I was classifying vegetation for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, producing on average 40 sheets of data a day. That’s a lot of paper, and the manager could see that we were struggling to keep track of it all. One day, we were called into her office, and each technician received a Pocket PC outfitted with software suitable for the job. We were excited: No more paper!

That excitement lasted as long as it took us to get to our job site. Within the day, we were back to using paper. The Pocket PCs collected dust the rest of the year.

Some of you might be asking – what horrible software did they make you use?

The answer? None. The software was fine, but the Pocket PCs were awful. Slow, difficult to use, no glare resistant screen…it was a nightmare. Even if the environmental data collection software is smart, if the hardware sucks, then it doesn’t really matter.

Over the last few years at Terraine, I’ve worked with a variety of handheld devices, including Smartphones such as HTC Android phones, Panasonic Toughbooks, TDS Recons, and others for fieldwork, but the one I like most is the Trimble Yuma.

   

Above left: The Trimble Yuma.

Above right: Trimble Yuma docking and recharge station, complete with space for recharging two extra batteries.

Trimble Yuma Pros:-

• Very bright and glare-resistant screen without that milky surface when viewing it from an angle.
• Integrated GPS with WaaS enhancement plus easy-to-use GPS software.
• Integrated Wi-Fi.
• Extremely rugged. It was tested with the Military Standard Test Series, which involved:
  • Water Test: Water immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
  • Sand and Dust Test: Tested for 8 hours with blowing powder from every direction.
  • Vibration Test: General Minimum Integrity and Loose Cargo Test (Method 514.5).
  • Temperature Test: Tested in temperatures from -30°C to 60°C (-22 to 140°F).
  • Temperature Shock Test: Transferred from -35°C to 60°C and back.
  • Humidity Test: Tested for 12 hours in 95% humidity at 0°C and 70°C.
  • Shock/Drop Test: Tested by dropping it 36 times from 4 feet and 6 drops each from 4 feet at -30°C and 60°C.
  • Low Pressure: Tested at 15,000 feet at 23°C and 40,000 feet at -30°C.
• It is fast and powerful, with a 32 GB Hard Drive and 1 GB of memory.
• Battery life is 10 hours, and changing out the battery is easy (you can pull one battery out at a time and swap with a new battery while the unit is still on!)
• Dual GPS-enabled cameras located in the front and rear (very cool).
• Windows 7.

Trimble Yuma Cons:-

• It’s heavy and bulky.
• Price! A Yuma costs between $3,500 and $4,000 (retail).

My opinion; the Yuma will pay for itself over time. If you are sending technicians into the field with subpar hardware, they are likely spending unnecessary time in the field. Upgrading will allow your field technicians to complete the job more quickly, which will save money in the long run. Not to mention you will have happier technicians! We all know that happy field techs are productive workers! 

Consider renting a Yuma for your next field assignment and see how it works for you! If you'd like more information on the Yuma, we have compiled datasheets and a technical review, which you can access via the link below.

Scribing About Scribe: Environmental Software Do or Don't?

The client for a new project of ours in eastern North Carolina requires that I use a particular program to collect and manage environmental data. This program, Scribe, was created by the EPA’s Environmental Response Team using Microsoft Access. Because Scribe’s purpose is so similar to environmental management software we are currently developing, I was, of course, interested in this free product and what it has to offer.

Scribe is divided into three main parts, which I will briefly summarize below. These summaries are not designed to be technical reviews but to offer a non-biased viewpoint of Scribe’s capabilities so that you can determine for yourself if you want to learn more.

1. Planning.

In the planning section, you create your event. This involves picking/creating your analytical methods, selecting a lab, inputting GPS coordinates of the wells/points that you are sampling, and entering all project information (Project numbers, DART numbers, or Contract Laboratory Program [CLP] lab numbers). One area to pay particular attention to is making sure that the right fields are populated with the correct information depending on the lab you are using. Entering wrong information can cause problems later.

2. Sampling.

Scribe’s greatest strength is its versatility. Scribe is designed for Air, Wipe, Biota, Soil/Sediment, Soil Gas, and Water samples. It also leaves ample space to include the sampling data you have collected without overwhelming you with choices.

3. Sample Management.

This area allows you to set up and print labels and chain of custody forms, as well as input lab results. However, because the EPA and CLP labs require certain information in certain areas, this part can get confusing. Really, your best shot at getting this right your first time around is to contact someone who knows Scribe and knows what options are to be selected and then get them to walk you through it.

Now, from my own experience with Scribe, here are a couple of pros and cons to the system:

Pros:

• It can be used for a wide range of sampling and monitoring jobs.
• It is highly customizable.
• It allows data to be exported in different forms.
• It’s free! (Unless you don’t already have Microsoft Access).

Cons:

• Too many options and field choices can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed.
• Not intuitive; a very steep learning curve.
• Label setup and chain of custody setup is confusing and poorly executed.
• Entering all samples and analyses is very time consuming.

To download a copy of Scribe or to read about Scribe’s technical capabilities, visit: www.ertsupport.org/scribe_home.htm. Microsoft Access is required.

Have you used Scribe? Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments about your experiences.

Are You Using the Right Tubing for Well Sampling?

Silicon, teflon, teflon-lined, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly (vinyl chloride), etc., etc., etc.  What’s the difference?   The type of tubing you use for groundwater sampling has an impact on the accuracy of your sample data.  When sampling for volatile organic compounds, for example, the use of specific types of tubing is discouraged.   

Some time ago, some scientific-ey, tube-lovin’ folks tested 20 different types of polymeric tubing in organic solutes.  The test solutions were monitored for sorption and for signs of leaching from the tubing.  Results indicated that rigid fluoropolymers appeared to be best for sampling groundwater because they were least sorptive and did not leach any detectable constituents.  The tubings with the poorest performance were polyurethane and flexible PVC. 

So what does this mean? Basically, this: If you are sampling for organics, it’s best to spend the extra money on teflon or teflon-lined tubing - Teflon Trumps!  If you are sampling for inorganics only, other tubings, like polyethylene, are just fine.