Importance of method detection limits in air pollutant measurements
- Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab.
Environmental measurements often produce many less than values or method detection limits (MDLs). MDL values may be used in determining compliance with regulatory limits, in the determination of emission factors (typical concentrations emitted by a given type of source), or in modeling efforts that feed into air measurement data bases. There is considerable technical discussion regarding definitions of, and methods for determining, detection limits. The definition and determination of MDLs are therefore important in planning an environmental measurement program. After an appropriate MDL has been determined, there are several ways to use the MDL value to calculate the mean concentration from a low-level source. To avoid introducing high or low biases in the calculated mean, this paper proposes the use of look-up tables to fill in missing (less than MDL) values with statistically based estimates. There are many approaches to dealing with the MDL issue, and the approach selected should depend on the end-use of the data. The MDL should be determined in the matrix that contains the analyte. Methods to calculate the MDL should be specified before the initiation of a measurement effort.
- OSTI ID:
- 197410
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9405167-; TRN: IM9612%%184
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Measurement of toxic and related air pollutants, Durham, NC (United States), 3-6 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Measurement of toxic and related air pollutants. Proceedings of the 1994 U.S. EPA/A and WMA international symposium; PB: 1075 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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