Overview
EN ISO 11504:2017 (ISO 11504:2017) - "Soil quality - Assessment of impact from soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons" provides guidance for selecting fractions and individual compounds to analyse when assessing soil, soil materials and related matrices (including sediments) contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs). The document explains the rationale behind recommended fractionation schemes, gives background on physico‑chemical behaviour and toxicity, and provides guidance on how analytical results should be used in risk assessment for human health, ecological receptors and other receptors.
Key points:
- Focuses on choosing relevant aliphatic and aromatic fractions and specific compounds of concern.
- Covers PHC-containing products that include non‑hydrocarbon substances when relevant.
- Provides background information, annexes (e.g. physico‑chemical properties, suggested TCA/TDI examples, country fractionation overviews).
- Does not set numeric assessment criteria or prescribe exposure models or parameter values (see ISO 15800 for exposure characterization).
Key topics and requirements
- Fraction selection: Guidance on fractionation approaches (distinguishing aliphatic vs. aromatic fractions; volatile vs. semi‑volatile ranges) to make TPH measurements more relevant to risk assessment.
- Individual compounds: Identification of specific compounds that may need targeted analysis due to toxicity or environmental relevance.
- Exposure assessment guidance: Discussion of relevant exposure routes (soil, pore water, pore gas) and how fraction results can be used in exposure models.
- Analytical compatibility: Recommendations that measurement methods (e.g., ISO 16558‑1, ISO 16558‑2, ISO 16703) should align with the recommended fractions to give meaningful inputs for risk assessments.
- Sampling and investigation: Issues related to sampling, sample handling, storage and analysis that affect data quality and interpretation.
- Informative annexes: Supporting data on properties, example tolerable concentrations and comparison of national fractionation schemes.
Applications and users
Who uses EN ISO 11504:2017:
- Environmental consultants and site assessors conducting contaminated land investigations and risk assessments.
- Analytical laboratories selecting methods or reporting fractionated PHC results.
- Regulators and policy makers using standardized approaches to interpret PHC data (note: standard does not set legal criteria).
- Remediation engineers and project managers planning investigations or remediation based on PHC characterisation.
Practical uses:
- Designing sampling and analytical programs that produce data fit for risk assessment.
- Interpreting TPH results by fraction to assess mobility, persistence and toxicity.
- Ensuring laboratory analyses align with exposure assessment needs.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 11504:2017, soil quality, petroleum hydrocarbons, TPH, fractionation, aliphatic, aromatic, risk assessment, contaminated land, ISO 16558.