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Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program

SAM Chemical Methods

Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) provides methods to be used in analyzing environmental samples for chemical contaminants during remediation activities that result from a homeland security event. Methods are provided for each analyte and for each sample type that potentially may need to be measured and analyzed when responding to an environmental contamination incident.

Please note: SAM provides guidance for selecting chemical methods that have a high likelihood of assuring analytical consistency when laboratories are faced with a large scale environmental restoration crisis. Not all methods have been verified for the analyte/sample type combination for which they have been selected. Please refer to the specified method to identify analyte/sample type combinations that have been verified. Any questions regarding information for chemical analytes and/or methods should be addressed to the appropriate contact(s) listed on the Technical Contacts page of this website. See: SAM Technical Contacts.

To determine the appropriate method that is to be used on an environmental sample, use the Chemical Methods Query page. See: Chemical Methods Query.

The SAM query provides access to summary information, extracted from the selected methods. Each method summary contains a table identifying the contaminants in SAM to which the method applies, a brief description of the analytical method, and a link to or source for obtaining a full version of the method. The full version of the method should be consulted prior to sample analysis. 

The fitness of a method for an intended use is related to site-specific DQOs for a particular environmental remediation activity. These selected chemical methods have been assigned tiers (below) to indicate a level of method usability for the specific analyte and sample type. The assigned tiers reflect the conservative view for DQOs involving timely implementation of methods for analysis of a high number of samples (such that multiple laboratories are necessary), low limits of identification and quantification, and appropriate QC:

Tier I: Analyte / sample type is a target of the method. Data are available for all aspects of method performance and quality control measures supporting its use for analysis of environmental samples following a contamination event. Evaluation and/or use of the method in multiple laboratories indicate that the methods can be implemented with no additional modifications for the analyte / sample types.
Tier II: (1) The analyte / sample type is a target of the method and the method has been evaluated for the analyte / sample type by one or more laboratories, or (2) the analyte / sample type is not a target of the method(s), but the method has been used by laboratories to address the analyte / sample type. In either case, available data and/or information indicate that modifications will likely be needed for use of the method to address the analyte / sample types.
Tier III: The analyte / sample type is not a target of the method, and/or no reliable data supporting the method's fitness for intended use are available. Data from other analytes or sample types, however, suggest that the method, with significant modification, may be applicable.

Below is a list of all selected chemical methods. Due to the complexity of some tables and graphics, some of our information is not amenable to a screen reader. If you have trouble accessing information contact Kathleen Nickel (nickel.kathy@epa.gov) and accommodations will be made.

You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.

Method ID

Method Title

200.7 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 200.7: Determination of Metals and Trace Elements in Water and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry

200.8 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 200.8: Determination of Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

245.1 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 245.1: Determination of Mercury in Water by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAA)

300.1 (Rev 1.0) (EPA OW)

EPA Method 300.1, Revision 1.0: Determination of Inorganic Anions in Drinking Water by Ion Chromatography

335.4 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 335.4: Determination of Total Cyanide by Semi-automated Colorimetry

350.1 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 350.1: Nitrogen, Ammonia (Colorimetric, Automated Phenate)

524.2 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 524.2: Measurement of Purgeable Organic Compounds in Water by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry

525.2 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 525.2: Determination of Organic Compounds in Drinking Water by Liquid-Solid Extraction and Capillary Column Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry

525.3 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 525.3: Determination of Semivolative Organic Chemicals in Drinking Water by Solid Phase Extraction and Capillary Column Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry

531.2 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 531.2: Measurement of N-Methylcarbamoyloximes and N-Methylcarbamates in Water by Direct Aqueous Injection HPLC With Postcolumn Derivatization

538 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 538: Determination of Selected Organic Contaminants in Drinking Water by Direct Aqueous Injection-Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (DAI-LC/MS/MS)

540 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 540: Determination of Selected Organic Chemicals in Drinking Water by Solid Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

549.2 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 549.2: Determination of Diquat and Paraquat in Drinking Water by Liquid-Solid Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography With Ultraviolet Detection

551.1 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 551.1: Determination of Chlorination Disinfection Byproducts, Chlorinated Solvents, and Halogenated Pesticides/Herbicides in Drinking Water by Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Gas Chromatography With Electron-Capture Detection

556.1 (EPA OW)

EPA Method 556.1: Determination of Carbonyl Compounds in Drinking Water by Fast Gas Chromatography

3015A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3015A (SW-846): Microwave Assisted Acid Digestion of Aqueous Samples and Extracts

3050B (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3050B (SW-846): Acid Digestion of Sediments, Sludges, and Soils

3511 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3511 (SW-846): Organic Compounds in Water by Microextraction

3520C (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3520C (SW-846): Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction

3535A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3535A (SW-846): Solid-Phase Extraction

3541 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3541 (SW-846): Automated Soxhlet Extraction

3545A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3545A (SW-846): Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE)

3570 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 3570 (SW-846): Microscale Solvent Extraction (MSE)

5030C (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 5030C (SW-846): Purge-and-Trap for Aqueous Samples

5035A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 5035A (SW-846): Closed-System Purge-and-Trap and Extraction for Volatile Organics in Soil and Waste Samples

6010D (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 6010D (SW-846): Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry

6020B (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 6020B (SW-846): Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry

7470A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 7470A (SW-846): Mercury in Liquid Wastes (Manual Cold-Vapor Technique)

7471B (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 7471B (SW-846): Mercury in Solid or Semisolid Wastes (Manual Cold-Vapor Technique)

7473 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 7473 (SW-846): Mercury in Solids and Solutions by Thermal Decomposition, Amalgamation, and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

7580 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 7580 (SW-846): White Phosphorus (P4) by Solvent Extraction and Gas Chromatography

8015D (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8015D (SW-846): Nonhalogenated Organics Using GC/FID

8260D (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8260D (SW-846): Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

8270E (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8270E (SW-846): Semivolatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

8290A, Appendix A
(EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8290A, Appendix A (SW-846): Procedure for the Collection, Handling, Analysis, and Reporting of Wipe Tests Performed Within the Laboratory

8315A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8315A (SW-846): Determination of Carbonyl Compounds by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

8316 (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8316 (SW-846): Acrylamide, Acrylonitrile and Acrolein by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

8318A (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8318A (SW-846): N-Methylcarbamates by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

8330B (EPA SW-846)

EPA Method 8330B (SW-846): Nitroaromatics, Nitramines, and Nitrate Esters by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

ISMO 2.3 Cyanide
(EPA CLP)

EPA CLP ISMO 2.3 Cyanide: Analytical Methods for Total Cyanide Analysis

3135.2I (EPA)

EPA Method 3135.2I: Cyanide, Total and Amenable in Aqueous and Solid Samples Automated Colorimetric With Manual Digestion

IO-3.1 (EPA ORD)

EPA IO [Inorganic] Compendium Method IO-3.1: Selection, Preparation, and Extraction of Filter Material

IO-3.4 (EPA ORD)

EPA IO [Inorganic] Compendium Method IO-3.4: Determination of Metals in Ambient Particulate Matter Using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Spectroscopy

IO-3.5 (EPA ORD)

EPA IO [Inorganic] Compendium Method IO-3.5: Determination of Metals in Ambient Particulate Matter Using Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

IO-5 (EPA ORD)

EPA IO [Inorganic] Compendium Method IO-5: Sampling and Analysis for Vapor and Particle Phase Mercury in Ambient Air Utilizing Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (CVAFS)

TO-10A (EPA ORD)

EPA Air Method, Toxic Organics - 10A (TO-10A): Determination of Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Ambient Air Using Low Volume Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Sampling Followed by Gas Chromatographic/Multi-Detector Detection (GC/MD)

TO-15 (EPA ORD) 
(67 pp, 2,709 K, About PDF)

EPA Air Method, Toxic Organics - 15 (TO-15): Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Air Collected in Specially-Prepared Canisters and Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

TO-17 (EPA ORD) 
(53 pp, 309 K, About PDF)

EPA Air Method, Toxic Organics - 17 (TO-17): Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air Using Active Sampling Onto Sorbent Tubes

EPA 600/R-11/143
(EPA / NIOSH)

EPA 600/R-11/143: Surface Analysis Using Wipes for the Determination of Nitrogen Mustard Degradation Products by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

EPA/600/R-12/653
(EPA NHSRC)

EPA/600/R-12/653: Verification of Methods for Selected Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs)

EPA/600/R-13/224
(EPA / CDC)
 Exit

EPA/600/R-13/224: Surface Analysis of Nerve Agent Degradation Products by Liquid Chrotromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

EPA/600/R-15/097
(EPA NHSRC)

EPA/600/R-15/097: Adaptation of the Conditions of U.S. EPA Method 538 for the Analysis of a Toxic Degradation Product of Nerve Agent VX (EA2192) in Water by Direct Aqueous Injection-Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

EPA/600/R-15/258
(EPA NHSRC)

EPA/600/R-15/258: Extraction and Analysis of Lewisite 1, by its Degradation Products, Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

EPA/600/R-16/114
(EPA NHSRC)

(92 pp, 2.2MB, About PDF)

EPA/600/R-16/114: Analytical Protocol for Measurement of Extractable Semivolatile Organic Compounds Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

EPA/600/R-16/115
(EPA NHSRC)

(66 pp, 3.4 MB, About PDF)

EPA/600/R-16/115: Analytical Protocol for Cyclohexyl Sarin, Sarin, Soman and Sulfur Mustard Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

EPA/600/R-16/116
(EPA NHSRC)

EPA/600/R-16/116: Analytical Protocol for VX Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

EPA-821-B-01-009
(EPA NHSRC)
 Exit
(PDF Download)

EPA-821-B-01-009: Method Kelada-01: Kelada Automated Test Methods for Total Cyanide, Acid Dissociable Cyanide, and Thiocyanate

1612 (NIOSH) Exit

NIOSH Method 1612: Propylene Oxide

2016 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 2016: Formaldehyde

2513 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 2513: Ethylene Chlorohydrin

3509 (NIOSH)
(5 pp, 26 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 3509: Aminoethanol Compounds II

3510 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 3510: Monomethylhydrazine

5600 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 5600: Organophosphorus Pesticides

5601 (NIOSH)
(21 pp, 439 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 5601: Organonitrogen Pesticides

6001 (NIOSH) Exit

NIOSH Method 6001: Arsine

6002 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 6002: Phosphine

6010 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 6010: Hydrogen Cyanide

6013 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 6013: Hydrogen Sulfide

6015 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 6015: Ammonia

6402 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 6402: Phosphorus Trichloride

7905 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 7905: Phosphorus

7906 (NIOSH)
(6 pp, 160 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 7906: Fluorides, Aerosol and Gas, by IC

7907 (NIOSH)
(5 pp, 124 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 7907: Volatile Acids by Ion Chromatography (Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Bromide, Nitric Acid)

9102 (NIOSH)

NIOSH Method 9102: Elements on Wipes

9106 (NIOSH)
(31 pp, 539 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 9106: Methamphetamine and Illicit Drugs, Precursors and Adulterants on Wipes by Liquid-Liquid Extraction

9109 (NIOSH)
(33 pp, 561 K, About PDF)

NIOSH Method 9109: Methamphetamine and Illicit Drugs, Precursors and Adulterants on Wipes by Solid Phase Extraction

S301-1 (NIOSH) Exit

NIOSH Method S301-1: Fluoroacetate Anion

OSHA 40

OSHA Method 40: Methylamine

OSHA 54

OSHA Method 54: Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)

OSHA 61

OSHA Method 61: Phosgene

ID-211 (OSHA)

OSHA Method ID-211: Sodium Azide and Hydrazoic Acid in Workplace Atmospheres

ID-216SG (OSHA)

OSHA Method ID216SG: Boron Trifluoride (BF3)

PV2004 (OSHA)

OSHA Method PV2004: Acrylamide

PV2103 (OSHA)

OSHA Method PV2103: Chloropicrin

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Method ID

Method Title

D5755-09 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D5755-09: Standard Test Method for Microvacuum Sampling and Indirect Analysis of Dust by Transmission Electron Microscopy for Asbestos Structure Number Surface Loading

D6480-05 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D6480-05: Standard Test Method for Wipe Sampling of Surfaces, Indirect Preparation, and Analysis for Asbestos Structure Number Concentration by Transmission Electron Microscopy

D7597-16 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D7597-16: Standard Test Method for Determination of Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate, Ethyl Hydrogen Dimethylamidophosphate, Ethyl Methylphosphonic Acid, Isopropyl Methylphosphonic Acid, Methylphosphonic Acid and Pinacolyl Methylphosphonic Acid in Water by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

D7598-16 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D7598-16: Standard Test Method for Determination of Thiodiglycol in Water by Single Reaction Monitoring Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

D7599-16 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D7599-16: Standard Test Method for Determination of Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, N-Methyldiethanolamine and N-Ethyldiethanolamine in Water by Single Reaction Monitoring Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS

D7644-16 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D7644-16: Standard Test Method for Determination of Bromadiolone, Brodifacoum, Diphacinone and Warfarin in Water by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

D7645-16 (ASTM)

ASTM Method D7645-16: Standard Test Method for Determination of Aldicarb, Aldicarb Sulfone, Aldicarb Sulfoxide, Carbofuran, Methomyl, Oxamyl and Thiofanox in Water by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

E2787-11 (ASTM)

ASTM Method E2787-11: Standard Test Method for Determination of Thiodiglycol in Soil Using Pressurized Fluid Extraction Followed by Single Reaction Monitoring Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

E2838-11 (ASTM)

ASTM Method E2838-11: Standard Test Method for Determination of Thiodiglycol on Wipes by Solvent Extraction Followed by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

E2866-12 (ASTM)

ASTM Method E2866-12:ASTM: Standard Test Method for Determination of Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate, Ethyl Methylphosphonic Acid, Isopropyl Methylphosphonic Acid, Methylphosphonic Acid and Pinacolyl Methylphosphonic Acid in Soil by Pressurized Fluid Extraction and Analyzed by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

10312:1995 (ISO)

ISO Method 10312:1995: Ambient Air - Determination of Asbestos Fibres - Direct-Transfer Transmission Electron Microscopy Method

4500-CN G (SM)

Standard Method 4500-CN B: Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination after Distillation

4500-NH3 B (SM)

Standard Method 4500-NH3 B: Nitrogen (Ammonia) Preliminary Distillation Step

4500-NH3 G (SM)

Standard Method 4500-NH3 G: Nitrogen (Ammonia) Automated Phenate Method

4500-Cl G (SM)

Standard Method 4500-Cl G: Chlorine (Residual) DPD Colorimetric Method

Analyst (2001) Vol. 126, pp. 1689

Literature Reference for Hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine (HMTD) (Analyst. 2001. 126: 1689-1693)

Analyst (1999) Vol. 124, pp. 1853

Literature Reference for Chlorine in Air (Analyst. 1999. 124: 1853-1857)

Chromatographia (2006) 63(5/6): 233-237

Literature Reference for Methamidophos (Chromatographia. 2006. 63(5/6): 233-237)

Encyclopedia of Anal. Chem (2006), 1-11

Literature Reference for Cyanogen Chloride (Encyclopedia of Anal. Chem. 2006. DOI: 10.1002/9780470027318.a0809)

Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. (2011) Vol. 113, pp. 345-355

Literature Reference for 3-Chloro-1,2-propanediol (Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 2011. 113: 345-355)

J. Chromatogr. (1993) Vol. 617: 157-162

Literature Reference for Methyl Hydrazine (Journal of Chromatography. 1993. (617), 157-162)

J. Chromatogr. A (2008) 1196-1197: 110-116

Literature Reference for Paraquat (Journal of Chromatography A. 2008. 1196-1197: 110-116)

J. Chromatogr. A (2007) Vol. 1154: pp. 3-25

Literature Reference for Methamidophos (Journal of Chromatography A. 2007. 1154: 3-25)

J. Chromatogr. A (2007) Vol. 1139: 271-278

Literature Reference for Fluoroacetic Acid/Fluoroacetate Salts/Methyl Fluoroacetate (Journal of Chromatography A. 2007. 1139: 271-278)

J. Chromatogr. A (2000) 866: 65-77

Literature Reference for 3-Chloro-1,2-propanediol (Journal of Chromatography A. 2000. 866: 65-77)

J. Chromatogr. A (2011) 1218: 1620-1649

Literature Reference for Fentanyl (Journal of Chromatography A. 2011. 1218: 1620-1649)

J. Chromatogr. B (2008) 874: 42-50

Literature Reference for BZ (Journal of Chromatography B. 2008. 874: 42-50)

J. Chromatogr. B (2008) 876(1): 103-108

Literature Reference for Fluoroacetamide (Journal of Chromatography B. 2008. 876(1): 103-108)

J. Chromatogr. B (2010) 878: 1045-1050

Literature Reference for Fluoroacetic Acid/Fluoroacetate Salts/Methyl Fluoroacetate (Journal of Chromatography B. 2010. 878: 1045-1050)

J. Chromatogr. B (2014) 962: 52-58

Literature Reference for Carfentanil and 3-Methyl Fentanyl (Journal of Chromatography B. 2014. 962: 52-58)

J. of Forensic Sci. (1998) 43(1): 200-202

Literature Reference for Sodium Azide (Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1998. 43(1): 200-202)

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