Characterisation of a second generation of European reference soils for sorption studies in the framework of chemical testing — Part I: chemical composition and pedological properties

In order to guarantee a sufficiently large stock of the European reference soil set introduced for the harmonisation of sorption studies within the framework of chemical testing — the so-called EUROSOILS — a second generation of these unique reference materials has recently been introduced. In Part I of this paper both generations are compared with regard to their chemical composition, pedological characteristics and background pollution. To this end numerous analysis by means of WDXRF, ICP-MS, SS-ETAAS and GC-MS have been carried out. Furthermore, standard pedological parameters such as grain size distribution, soil pH, cation exchange capacity and organic carbon content had been determined for both generations. In a few cases significant differences could be observed for the two versions of one soil. The differences in the case of organic carbon content are discussed briefly. However, statistical evaluation by cluster analysis proved the chemical and pedological identity of both generations. Investigation on eventual existing pollution by organic contaminants showed no evidence for pollutants whose presence might influence further studies and consequently, no restriction for the further use of the second EUROSOIL-generation could be found.