What are some goals of sampling?

• A. Identifying health risks
• B. Increasing sampling speed
• C. Reducing data quality
• D. Increasing cost

Answer: (A)

Sampling aims to gather data that reveal whether environmental or occupational exposures pose health risks. By collecting representative measurements of contaminants, you can identify which substances are present, how much of them there is, and whether those levels exceed safety standards. This information supports risk assessment, prioritizes control measures, and helps ensure regulatory compliance, ultimately guiding actions to protect people.

So identifying health risks fits best because it directly describes why we sample: to detect and gauge potential harm. Increasing sampling speed, reducing data quality, or increasing cost are not goals of sampling themselves—speed and cost may be considerations, but the core purpose is to obtain reliable data that reveal health risks.