What is a primary purpose of the Chain of Custody?

The primary purpose of the Chain of Custody is to document and record everyone who has handled a sample. This procedure is crucial in environmental work, especially when dealing with pollution and hazardous materials, because it ensures the integrity and authenticity of evidence collected. If a sample is to be used in legal proceedings, demonstrating a clear chain of custody helps establish that the sample has not been tampered with and maintains its validity throughout the investigation.

Knowing who has handled the sample at every stage provides accountability and traceability, which is vital in protecting the integrity of the data collected. This meticulous documentation process is essential for maintaining the trustworthiness of environmental assessments and analyses, thereby supporting legal and regulatory processes related to pollution management.