UNE-EN ISO 15952-2018 PDF

Full title and description

STB UNE-EN ISO 15952:2018 — Soil quality — Effects of pollutants on juvenile land snails (Helicidae) — Determination of the effects on growth by soil contamination. This is the UNE/EN national adoption of International Standard ISO 15952:2018 for use in national conformity and laboratory testing programmes.

Abstract

This standard specifies a semi-static (renewed weekly) laboratory method to determine effects of contaminants (substances, mixtures, contaminated soils or wastes) on growth and survival of juvenile land snails (commonly Helix/ Cornu aspersum). Tests are normally run for 28 days using an artificial or natural soil substrate; a static method is described as an optional alternative in an annex. The procedure excludes substances with an air/soil partition coefficient greater than 1 or vapour pressure exceeding 300 Pa at 25 °C.

General information

• Status: Published / confirmed (current).
• Publication date: ISO edition published June 2018 (ISO 15952:2018); UNE/EN national adoption dated 2018 (UNE endorsement September 1, 2018).
• Publisher: ISO (International Organization for Standardization); national adoption published/endorsed by Asociación Española de Normalización (AENOR) as UNE-EN ISO 15952.
• ICS / categories: 13.080.30 — Biological properties of soils.
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2018) — ISO 15952:2018 (replaces the 2006 version).
• Number of pages: ISO edition: 34 pages; national UNE/EN publications commonly show 44–46 pages including national front matter (UNE copies commonly reported as ~45 pages).

Scope

Provides a laboratory test method to assess effects of soil-borne contaminants on growth (and survival) of juvenile land snails exposed via dermal and digestive routes. Applicable to testing of single substances, mixtures, contaminated soils or waste materials using artificial or natural soils depending on study objectives. The method accounts for weekly renewal of test mixtures over the 28‑day exposure and excludes volatile substances that partition strongly to air (air/soil partition coefficient > 1) or have vapour pressure > 300 Pa at 25 °C.

Key topics and requirements

• Semi-static exposure design with weekly renewal of test substrate and treatments (28-day test period).
• Test organism: juvenile land snails of family Helicidae (typically Helix/Cornu aspersum).
• Endpoints: growth (primary) and survival; measurement of growth inhibition and related effect concentrations (ECx/NOEC/LOEC as applicable).
• Test substrates: artificial or natural soil selected according to study objective; procedures for contaminated soils and wastes are included.
• Limitations/exclusions: not applicable to substances with air/soil partition coefficient > 1 or vapour pressure > 300 Pa at 25 °C; potential changes/degradation of test substances are considered through renewal procedures.
• Optional static method described in an annex (Annex A).

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and ecotoxicology laboratories, contaminated‑site assessors, environmental consultants, regulatory agencies, research institutions and industries performing soil ecotoxicity testing. Typical applications include hazard assessment of chemicals and wastes, site risk assessments, remediation monitoring and regulatory compliance testing for soil quality.

Related standards

ISO 15952 sits within the ISO/TC 190 biological-characterization family of soil ecotoxicology methods. Closely related standards include test methods for other soil organisms, for example ISO 11268 series (effects on earthworms — acute and reproduction tests) and ISO 11267 (inhibition of reproduction of Collembola, Folsomia candida). These documents are commonly used together when assessing soil ecological effects across multiple taxa.

Keywords

soil quality; land snails; Helicidae; Helix aspersa / Cornu aspersum; ecotoxicology; growth inhibition; semi-static test; contaminated soils; UNE-EN; ISO 15952.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is the UNE/EN national adoption of ISO 15952:2018 — an ISO laboratory method for assessing effects of soil contamination on growth and survival of juvenile land snails (Helicidae).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers a semi-static 28-day laboratory test (with weekly renewal) using artificial or natural soil substrates to expose juvenile snails to substances, mixtures, contaminated soils or wastes and to measure growth and survival endpoints. It specifies test conditions, organism handling, reporting and limitations (excludes volatile substances above specified partitioning/vapour thresholds).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental/ecotoxicology laboratories, site‑assessment consultants, regulators, remediation practitioners, and researchers conducting soil hazard and risk assessments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 15952:2018 (Edition 2) is the current edition and the 2018 version was reviewed/confirmed in subsequent ISO reviews; the 2018 text replaced the earlier 2006 edition. National UNE/EN adoptions from 2018 remain active. Users should confirm national adoption status and any later revisions with their national standards body before use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO soil-quality biological testing family (ISO/TC 190/SC 4) alongside standards for earthworms (ISO 11268 series), collembola (ISO 11267) and other biological test methods used to characterise soil ecological hazard.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: soil quality, ecotoxicology, land snails, Helicidae, growth inhibition, semi-static test, contaminated soil, UNE-EN, ISO 15952.