From: veritasium
Environmental monitoring is a critical application for Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [00:16:13]. These materials help identify dangerous contaminants and understand human exposure to various substances [00:15:13] [00:15:08].
Materials for Environmental Monitoring
House Dust
NIST collects house dust by working with maid services, hotels, and motels, gathering vacuum bags, mixing the contents thoroughly, and then measuring everything within [00:14:42] [00:15:01]. Dust is considered an effective way to determine what individuals and their homes are exposed to environmentally [00:15:06].
Domestic Sludge
Domestic sludge is sold by the U.S. government [00:00:15]. It is derived from solid material removed during wastewater treatment, which is then dried into a fine powder [00:00:29] [00:00:32]. This sludge serves as a record of what has been expelled from human bodies and entered sewer systems [00:16:00] [00:16:05]. Researchers can examine it for traces of toxins or heavy metals, providing insight into contaminants individuals may unknowingly be exposed to [00:16:05] [00:16:09]. NIST also plans to launch an actual human poop product for similar research next year [00:16:17].
Contaminated Soil and Water Samples
NIST provides various environmental samples, including:
- Lead Paint They have several types of lead paint SRMs [00:15:19].
- Glacier Water Water from a glacier in Greenland is so rare that its distribution is limited to one unit per customer every three years [00:15:20] [00:15:25].
- Soil Samples Dirt from New Jersey and Montana, including samples from contaminated industrial sites, are certified for toxic elements [00:15:32] [00:15:36] [00:15:46].
These SRMs are crucial for laboratories and industries to accurately measure and monitor contaminants in various environmental matrices [00:15:13].