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THE USE AND LIMITATIONS OF DETECTION AND QUANTITATION LIMITS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Citation:
Glaser*, J A. THE USE AND LIMITATIONS OF DETECTION AND QUANTITATION LIMITS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS. Presented at 13th West Coast Conf. on Contaminated Sediments & Water, San Diego, CA, 03/19/2003.
Description:
Site assessment, remediation and compliance monitoring require the routine determination of the concentration of regulated substances in environmental samples. Each measurement methodology providing the concentration determinations, is required to specify key data quality elements for each determination. Accuracy and precision statements of the measurement methodology, its detection limit (MDL) and practical limit of quantitation (PQL) are often used to characterize data sets. The MDL and PQL are particularly important for highly toxic substances since regulatory thresholds are often set at or near the MDL or PQL. The appropriate use of data in the MDL/PQL range requires a fundamental understanding of how method, analyst, and laboratory dependent MDL and PQL values are obtained. This workshop will explain the fundamental concepts of MDL and PQL, determinations and implications for use of MDL/PQL level measurements.