Collecting Water Samples for Mercury Analysis
Summary
TLDRThis instructional video guide outlines the meticulous process of collecting water, sediment, and dragonfly larvae samples from national parks for mercury analysis. It emphasizes the importance of following protocols, maintaining cleanliness, and safety during field sampling. Participants are provided with a collection kit, and the video offers detailed steps on equipment setup, sampling techniques, and sample storage and shipment, ensuring accurate mercury level assessments to protect park ecosystems.
Takeaways
- đ Follow protocols and maintain cleanliness for uncontaminated mercury samples.
- đ The video is a guide for collecting dragonfly larvae, water, and sediment samples for mercury analysis in national parks.
- đ Download the sampling guide from the provided website for detailed instructions.
- đ§âđŹ Collect samples for mercury analysis, including water, sediment, and dragonfly larvae.
- đž Document the sampling process with pictures and observations, but adhere strictly to the protocol for actual sampling.
- 𧳠Upon participation, receive a collection kit with specified equipment and materials.
- đ·ââïž Ensure personal safety with flotation devices for citizen scientists entering the water.
- đ Schedule sampling at least two weeks in advance and preferably on Monday to Wednesday for timely lab analysis.
- đĄïž Collect water samples first as they are most sensitive to contamination and perform the task in consistent weather conditions.
- đ Differentiate roles for 'clean hands' and 'dirty hands' during sampling to prevent contamination.
- đ° Rinse the sampling bottle thrice before filling it with water to ensure cleanliness.
- đ Record barcode and other details on the field data sheet and store samples on ice after collection.
- đŠ Ship samples within 24 hours using FedEx overnight, with a prepaid return label and contact your coordinator for tracking.
- â Contact the project coordinator for any questions regarding sampling procedures.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the video script?
-The main purpose of the video script is to guide participants on how to collect water, sediment, and dragonfly larvae samples for mercury analysis in national parks, ensuring the samples are not contaminated and following the correct protocols.
Where can I find the sampling guide mentioned in the video?
-You can download a copy of the sampling guide from the website displayed on the screen during the video.
What are the three types of samples that will be collected for mercury analysis?
-The three types of samples to be collected are water, sediment, and dragonfly larvae.
What is the importance of following the protocol during sampling?
-Following the protocol ensures that the samples are collected without contamination, which is crucial for accurate mercury analysis and understanding the risk of mercury to national park ecosystems.
What safety equipment is required for citizen scientists who are going into the water?
-Citizen scientists going into the water must have personal flotation devices for safety.
When should I contact the project coordinator before collecting the water sample?
-You should contact the project coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to when you plan to collect the water sample to allow for analytical preparation time for the lab.
What are the best days to collect water samples according to the script?
-The best days to collect water samples are Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to ensure the samples can be shipped within 24 hours of collection and to avoid weekends when the lab may not be staffed.
What should be done if the water sample bottle gets sediment or mud from the bottom of the water body during collection?
-If the sample bottle gets sediment or mud, the participant should pour out the sample, rinse the bottle three times, and then try to collect the sample again.
How should the water sample be stored in the field before shipping?
-The water sample should be stored in a cooler with bagged ice, and the sample should be sealed in its double bags. A copy of the field data sheet should also be placed in a zipper bag inside the cooler.
What should be included in the shipment of the water samples to the lab?
-The shipment should include the water sample in the cooler with ice, a FedEx shipping label, a copy of the field data sheet in a zipper bag, and the field coordinator's contact information.
How should the sample be handled after collection to avoid contamination?
-After collection, the sample should be handled by 'clean hands' who only touch the inner bag in the sample bottle. 'Dirty hands' should handle everything else to prevent contamination of the sample.
Outlines
đŹ Mercury Sampling Protocol for National Parks
This paragraph introduces a project aimed at understanding mercury's impact on national park ecosystems. It emphasizes the importance of following protocols to avoid contamination when collecting dragonfly larvae, water, and sediment samples for mercury analysis. The video guide is designed to assist in the sampling process, and participants are encouraged to download the sampling guide for detailed instructions. The paragraph outlines the necessary equipment, including gloves, a cooler, and a field datasheet, and stresses the importance of safety and cleanliness. It also provides specific instructions for when and how to collect water samples, including the optimal days of the week for sampling to ensure timely lab analysis.
đŠ Proper Handling and Shipment of Mercury Samples
This paragraph focuses on the correct handling and shipment of water samples collected for mercury analysis. It details the process of sealing the samples in double bags and storing them on ice in a cooler. The importance of recording barcodes and other relevant information on the field datasheet is highlighted. The paragraph also provides guidance on cleaning up the sampling site and adhering to the 'Leave No Trace' principle. It outlines the shipping process, including the use of a FedEx overnight service with a prepaid return label, and the necessity of coordinating with the project coordinator to ensure timely and proper delivery of the samples to the lab. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to maintain cleanliness and safety throughout the sampling process.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄMercury
đĄContamination
đĄProtocols
đĄDragonfly larvae
đĄSediment
đĄField sampling
đĄCitizen scientists
đĄPersonal flotation devices
đĄNo Trace
đĄSampling guide
đĄShipping
Highlights
The project aims to understand mercury movement in the environment and its risks to national park ecosystems.
Participants are guided on collecting uncontaminated samples by following protocols and maintaining cleanliness.
A sampling guide is provided for collecting dragonfly larvae, water, and sediment samples for mercury analysis.
The guide can be downloaded from a specified website.
Field sampling involves collecting water, sediment, and dragonfly larvae samples.
A filled collection kit is provided to participants, including gloves, bottles, and a field datasheet.
Citizen scientists must have personal flotation devices when going into the water.
Sampling should be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance and ideally on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
Water samples are the most sensitive to contamination and should be collected first.
Sampling techniques vary for lakes and streams, with specific instructions for each.
A two-person team is needed for sampling, with designated 'clean' and 'dirty' roles.
Gloves must be handled carefully to avoid contamination, with specific guidance on donning them.
The sample bottle must be rinsed three times before being filled with water.
Proper sealing and storage procedures are outlined to maintain sample integrity.
Field data must be recorded, and samples should be stored on ice in a cooler.
Shipping instructions are provided, including using FedEx overnight with a prepaid return label.
Samples must be shipped within 24 hours of collection to ensure accuracy.
Contact with the project coordinator is essential for scheduling and shipping.
A Leave No Trace policy is emphasized, ensuring the sample site is clean and undisturbed post-sampling.
Transcripts
thank you for participating this project
mercury is all around us in your
contribution will help all of us better
understand how mercury moves through the
environment and understand the risk of
mercury to national park ecosystems to
collect samples that don't get
contaminated means following protocols
and keeping everything ultra clean this
video supports the sampling guide for
the collection of dragonfly larvae water
and sediment samples from national parks
for mercury analysis you can download a
copy of the guide at the website on the
screen read the guide to make sure you
have enough time for your participants
to collect everything you will be
collecting water sediment and dragonfly
larvae samples and submitting the
samples for mercury analysis unless
otherwise noted by the project
coordinator field sampling is fun take
pictures be safe make observations
record the event but for sampling be
sure to follow the protocol this water
sampling video is split into equipment
when to sample where to sample how to
sample in storage and shipment of your
sample when you have arranged to
participate in the dragonfly project you
will receive a filled collection kit
keep everything stored in a safe clean
area until you are ready to sample from
the field gear sent to you you will need
to pair of white powder free gloves in
the double bag PE tea bottle leave the
bags closed until you are out in the
field and a field datasheet a cooler a
sharpie marker you will have one PE tea
bottle for each water body that you are
sampling you will need to provide bagged
ice a trash bag Waiters or boots in your
citizen scientists who are going into
the water must have personal flotation
devices contact your project coordinator
at least 2 weeks prior to when you plan
to collect the water sample this allows
analytical preparation time for the lab
if you decide to collect this sample on
a separate day with fewer citizen
scientists just make sure to collect
within 2 weeks before or after
when the dragonflies are collected also
note it is best to collect water samples
on Monday Tuesday or Wednesday as
samples must be shipped within 24 hours
of collection and because there's not
always someone in the lab to accept
samples on Saturday or Sunday
do your best to schedule sampling during
consistent weather conditions as this
will reduce uncertainty when
interpreting results if you are
collecting all three sample types on one
day water sediment and dragonfly larvae
collect the water first this sample is
the most sensitive to contamination and
needs to be collected before anyone goes
in the water before any possible
stirring up of the site for lakes paddle
or reach or wade without stirring up the
sediment a few feet from shore into at
least one meter of weed free water for
streams reach into a deeper part of the
stream preferably a pool below a riffle
if necessary walk upstream against the
flow to the sampling site if someone
Wade's right in before collecting the
water sample then the area will be
disturbed so move a bit upstream or wait
far out enough to avoid the disturbed
area or return another day for water
samples you will need two people to do
the sampling one person will be clean
hands and the other person will be dirty
hands dirty hands job is to deal with
everything so that clean hands only
touches the inner bag in the sample
bottle at the sampling site dirty hands
gets and opens the glove bag and lets
clean hands pull out a pair of gloves
your gloves should have arrived such
that the wrist of the glove is facing
the opening of the bag that way the
gloves can be pulled from the bag with
only minimally touching the wrist part
and without having to touch the palm or
finger parts of the gloves as those
parts will be in contact with a sampling
container once the gloves are on clean
hands is careful not to touch the
outside of the gloves or anything else
dirty hands puts on the other pair of
gloves dirty hands opens the outer bag
of the PT bottle and does not touch
anything inside the outer bag clean
hands reaches into the outer bag with a
PE tea bottle and unzips the inner bag
and
pulls out the sample bottle clean hands
takes the bottle to the sample site once
in place at the sampling site clean
hands unscrews the bottle cap and rinses
the bottle and cap three times filling
from one side of your body
upstream emptying on the other side of
the body downstream if you are sampling
from a boat and fill the bottle with
rinse water on one side of the boat and
empty the rinse water on the other side
of the boat clean hands only needs a
little bit of water for this it does not
need to fill and empty the bottle three
times once the bottle is rinsed clean
hands then fills the bottle completely
in capsule form lay under water clean
hands then return to the full bottle to
the inner bag seals the inner bag and
pushes it inside the outer bag and seals
that sealing of the outer bag can be
done by clean hands or dirty hands as it
signals the completion of collecting
this sample once the sample is in the
bags both clean hands and dirty hands
can remove their gloves and throw them
in the trash bag if while collecting the
bottle is placed too low in the water
and you get sediment mud silt or
anything else from the bottom of your
water body and sample just pour the
sample out rinse the bottle three times
and try again record the barcode that is
on the bottle onto your field data sheet
if you have not done so yet fill out the
other information on the field data
sheet place sample sealed in its double
bags on ice in the cooler to store while
in the field if you are not doing the
sediment and dragonfly sampling and are
done sampling or you are moving to your
next water body
remember Leave No Trace be sure to
collect all of your field gear and
remove trash from the sample site before
departing when you get back to the lab
or office store the well marked sample
in the fridge until you ship to ship the
water samples you will need your water
sample the cooler your FedEx shipping
label clear packing tape your field data
sheet ice not dry ice and your field
coordinators contact information contact
your coordinator when you are getting
ready to ship your sample to
verified that someone is available to
accept the shipment shipment of cooler
should be sent FedEx overnight with
prepaid return label included in the kit
your coordinator will need to know the
FedEx tracking number for your cooler
please be ready to give it to him or her
again because there's not always someone
in the lab to accept samples on Saturday
or Sunday
and because samples need to be shipped
within 24 hours of collection it is best
to collect water samples on Monday
Tuesday or Wednesday water samples must
be shipped within 24 hours of collection
to prepare the samples for shipment put
your samples in a cooler with ice not
try ice place a copy of the field data
sheet in a zipper bag don't forget to
keep a copy for yourself
seal the bag with a copy of the field
data sheet and place that in the cooler
as well and seal the cooler put the
shipping label on the cooler and take to
your local FedEx office or arrange for
pickup if you have any questions about
sampling please contact your project
coordinator keep things clean
be safe thank you and have fun
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)