ISO 15799:2019

Overview

ISO 15799:2019 - "Soil quality - Guidance on the ecotoxicological characterization of soils and soil materials" provides practical guidance for selecting experimental methods to assess the ecotoxic potential of soils and soil materials (e.g., excavated soils, remediated soils, refills, embankments). The standard is part of a family of soil-quality standards focused on protecting the habitat and retention functions of soils and is suitable for use within a TRIAD approach for ecological assessment (see ISO 19204). It does not cover bioaccumulation testing or the interpretation of results.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and application: Guidance applies to soils/soil materials where ecotoxicity testing is relevant (contaminated sites, remediation monitoring, re-use decisions) and identifies situations where testing is unnecessary (e.g., effectively sealed or clearly hazardous wastes).
• Test selection criteria: Emphasizes scientific validity, ecological significance, reproducibility, statistical robustness, practicability and regulatory acceptability.
• Recommended test battery approach: Advises a multi-trophic battery-at minimum a microbial process, a plant species, and an animal species (typically saprophagous/detritivorous); include predators when possible to reduce false negatives from species-specific tolerance.
• Soil functions to protect: Focus on the retention function (ability to adsorb/mobilize pollutants) and the habitat function (supporting biocenoses of microbes, plants, soil fauna).
• Sampling and sample handling: Covers sampling, transport, storage and sample preparation to ensure valid ecotoxicity testing.
• Limitations: Lists constraints of biotests for soils/soil materials and clarifies that interpretation of ecological risk is outside the standard’s scope.
• Annex A: Contains standardized forms of recommended test systems; the 2019 edition updates annex content (e.g., ISO 18311 and ISO 18187 added; ISO 20963 deleted).

Practical applications

• Assessing ecotoxicity of potentially contaminated soils during site investigation and remediation.
• Evaluating suitability of excavated or remediated soil for reuse (refill, embankment, landscaping).
• Monitoring biological recovery or effectiveness of soil treatment processes.
• Detecting ecological effects not apparent from chemical analysis alone (complex mixtures, interactions).
• Supporting regulatory compliance, risk management and land‑re‑use decisions.

Who uses this standard

• Environmental consultants and remediation contractors
• Soil scientists, ecotoxicologists and laboratory managers
• Regulatory agencies and risk assessors
• Land‑use planners and project managers involved in earthworks and construction

Related standards

• ISO 19204 - TRIAD approach for contaminated soils (ecological assessment)
• ISO 11074 - Soil characterization terminology
• Referenced ISO test methods cited in Annex A (e.g., ISO 18311, ISO 18187)

Keywords: ISO 15799:2019, soil quality, ecotoxicological characterization, ecotoxicity tests, contaminated soils, TRIAD, soil functions, retention function, habitat function, remediation, soil reuse.