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Sources of error in analysis of municipal sludges and sludge-amended soils for Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA)

The purpose of this article is to characterize the propagation of error or variance throughout all stages of a greenhouse study designed to measure plant uptake of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP from sludge-amended soils. Rapid quantitative determination of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP in municipal sludge is described for capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using selected ion monitoring with isotope dilution techniques. Propagation of error through a four-step technique is measured as an increase in variance with each additional step. Stepwise accumulated variation (as a percent-age of total error) was GC/MS analysis with data reduction, 3%; analyst (sample preparation), 8%; heterogeneity of sludge, 30%; heterogeneity in sludge-amended soil, 77%; and errors between planters, 100%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) associated with analysis of sludge alone was 16% at 51 mg kg{sup {minus}1} DEHP. Analysis precision was dependent on sample size and DEHP concentration. The RSD for a 13 mg kg{sup {minus}1} DEHP loading in soil/sludge mixtures for a greenhouse study was 26.5%. Detection limits for DEHP in sludges with rapid screening procedures were fixed by interfering extractable matrices.

OSTI ID:
6958561
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA) Vol. 18:3; ISSN JEVQA; ISSN 0047-2425
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English