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At the time of this article, the method detection limit (MDL) calculated according to a US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) protocol is the official measure of detection limits in drinking water monitoring. Some utilities and water testing laboratories find that they cannot routinely achieve published MDLs, a finding confirmed by a survey of 51 drinking water laboratories which also found substantial variation in MDLs. The spread in MDLs suggests that laboratories may not reliably detect contaminants at low concentrations which poses a serious problem in drinking water compliance monitoring. This article identifies those factors that might be amenable to external control and lead to greater uniformity in laboratory performance and better information on detection limits. Includes 11 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. 90 - No. 6 Published: 06/01/1998 Number of Pages: 9 File Size: 1 file , 1.3 MB