Methodology and Quality Assurance/Quality Control of Environmental Analysis - Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis - page 107

The last three digits of the four-digit code identify the parameters. For instance,
a method identified as I-7084-85 is a flameless atomic absorption spectrometry
(FLAA) method for barium analysis performed on suspended material, last updated
in 1985.
AOAC Methods
AOAC was founded in 1884 as the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists,
under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to adopt uniform
methods of analysis for fertilizers. AOAC changed its name to the Association of
Official Analytical Chemists, and then to the Association of Analytical Commu-
nities to reflect its wider membership including microbiologists, food science
personnel, as well as chemists. Entitled ''Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC
International'' (18th edition, 2005), this AOAC method is referred to as the ''Bible''
by its users in food science, beverage purity control, agriculture, pharmaceuticals,
microbiology, and the environmental field. This two-volume set contains over 2700
collaboratively tested, internationally recognized methods. Most of the AOAC
methods related to agricultural and food testing are the most authoritative sources of
analytical methods used worldwide.
Soil Methods
These are the method topics jointly published by the American Society of Agronomy
(ASA) and the Soil Science Society of American (SSSA). It is the most authoritative
and systematic methods used by soil scientists and engineers. Environmental
professionals use these methods for soil-related physical, chemical, biological, and
mineralogical analysis. The methods include four volumes:
Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, 3rd
edition, 1986.
Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2: Microbiological and Biochemical
Methods, 3rd edition, 1994.
Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3: Chemical Methods, 3rd edition, 1996.
Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 4: Physical Methods, 2002.
Other Methods
These include methods established by many other professional organizations and
agencies at various states and federal levels as well as countries worldwide. The
Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) are examples of organizations that have not been included
in the above discussions. Many states have their own methods approved for use
under a variety of monitoring programs. An example is the petroleum Leaking
Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program—the total petroleum hydrocarbons
(TPH) are tested by GC in California's method, while the Wisconsin method tests for