A soil sampling system is provided that allows headspace screening of soil
samples at spaced intervals along a soil sample liner without disturbing
the soil samples to be collected and shipped to a laboratory for further
testing. The soil sample liner includes a plurality of cylindrical liner
sections positioned end-to-end in a linear array, with each liner section
having a sidewall and open ends. A shrink-wrap material covers the liner
sections and holds the liner sections together as an assembled unit. Some
of the liner sections have access openings formed in a sidewall thereof
for providing access to the soil samples contained therein. The liner
sections having access openings are interspersed between other liner
sections that do not have access openings. The access openings are used
by piercing the shrink-wrap material covering the access opening, and
inserting a probe tip through the access opening into a headspace to
measure contamination.