Choice and criteria for selection of sampling strategies in environmental radioactivity monitoring

Environmental radioactivity monitoring requires a sampling strategy to be defined, adopted and delivered using sound scientific principles. Statistical sampling delivers a set of sampling units from the population that is representative of all sampling units that could be taken. Such a representative set can then be used to draw inference(s) and conclusion(s) about the population based upon a statistical model. The environmental knowledge of the context in which the sampling is to be carried out plays a vital role in determining the appropriate statistical sampling strategy. (C) 2008 IAEA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.