ABSTRACT
Environmental diagnosis constitutes the first step in studying the contamination-remediation of a given site. It represents the phase of initial investigation necessary for acquiring knowledge as to the state of the environment of a site. A request for diagnosis of pollution is seldom made without an a priori or initial suggestion or apprehension; it implies a certain stand taken by the exploiter of the site—or the proprietor—or perhaps the administration. Phase one of the site diagnosis obligatorily includes a detailed visit to the site. This actualises the situation only partially discovered from the documents. After completing the first phase of the diagnosis, a programme of detailed investigation of the site is implemented. A programme of sampling ought to enable obtaining information as complete and accurate as possible, with minimal equipment and time. Sampling the soil is usually done by means of a hand shovel; the quantity removed is variable but of the order of 1 to 2 kg.
