What is required for proper preservation of samples taken during a spill?

Maintaining a temperature of 40-42 degrees is crucial for the proper preservation of samples taken during a spill because it slows down the degradation processes that could affect the chemical and physical properties of the samples. This temperature range helps inhibit microbial growth and minimizes changes in the composition of the samples, which is essential for accurate analysis and testing. Proper temperature control ensures that the integrity of the samples is preserved, making it possible to obtain reliable results when they are analyzed in a lab.

In contrast, sealing samples in an airtight container, while important, does not address temperature control, which is critical for preservation. Storing samples at room temperature may lead to faster deterioration, and simply labeling them with response team names does not protect the samples from environmental factors that can compromise their quality. Thus, maintaining the appropriate temperature is the most vital aspect of sample preservation in spill response situations.