Ensuring quality in long term environmental monitoring for chemical speciation

The awareness regarding quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) for environmental monitoring has considerably increased in the past few years, especially with respect to the determination of chemical species, since errors occurring at various levels may considerably affect the interpretation of results (e.g. studies of toxic impact, geochemical pathways, etc.). QA for environmental analysis covers a broad range of activities from sample collection to laboratory work and the approach for ensuring quality data should be considered in a global context. However, whereas great emphasis has been placed on QA within the laboratory, there have been few systematic attempts to evaluate risks of discrepancies related, for example, to field manipulations. The situation is even worse when monitoring is applied to relatively new fields such as chemical speciation. This paper outlines some of the main aspects of quality control of environmental analysis, including the validation of methods, sampling and sample handling, storage, etc., with special emphasis on the monitoring of chemical forms of elements (e.g. species of tin, mercury, lead and selenium).     

QA/QC措施在中哈有机氯农药联合监测工作中的应用

为了说清伊犁河出、入境断面六六六、DDT等4种有机氯农药的检出问题,中国与哈萨克斯坦双方分别在中方的三道河子断面和哈方的杜本断面进行了联合研究性监测。中方采取现场采集平行样并加带全程序空白样品,实验室采用溶剂空白、实验室空白、全程序空白、平行双样以及加标回收分析等质控措施,使哈方专家认可中方监测数据的准确性和有效性,保证了双方的监测结果被中哈环保合作委员会接受和采用。研究以中哈跨界河流实际监测的典型实例,论证了质量保证与质量控制措施（QA/QC）在跨国界河流联合监测工作中的重要作用。     

How well should laboratories perform in proficiency tests

The long-term performance of laboratories is examined using results from three proficiency testing programmes in the water and environmental monitoring sector. A medium term proficiency test pass rate of greater than approximately 75% is suggested as a minimum target for routine analysis to demonstrate fitness for purpose. This pass rate is proposed as a practical yardstick to be used by QA managers and accreditation bodies. This recommendation is contingent on a laboratory's continued and largely uninterrupted participation in a PT programme.     

PM2.5手工监测技术要点探讨

以重量法为原理的手工监测法是国内外监测环境空气PM2.5质量浓度的标准方法,在空气质量监测中具有重要应用。该文以2012年跨4个季度近150 d的PM2.5手工监测实际操作经验为基础,重点探讨了手工监测法各环节的监测技术要点,如手工监测采样器的操作技术、滤膜种类的选择及前处理要求、滤膜更换技术、滤膜平衡和称重条件、质量保证和质量控制技术等,以期为推广PM2.5手工监测法提供技术参考。     

水质监测中存在的若干技术问题 (续)

在全国“持证上岗”、“计量认证”、实验室现场考核和《亚洲地区实验室精度管理手册》编制过程及“监测质量调查”的基础上，发现我国部分环境监测站在水质监测的实际操作、试样前处理、监测分析方法选择及数据分析等方面尚存在一些技术问题。在分析这些问题的同时，提出了解决办法和建立我国质量保证指标体系的建议。     

水质监测中存在的若干技术问题

在全国持证上岗、计量认证、实验室现场考核和《亚洲地区实验室精度管理手册》编制过程及监测质量调查的基础上,发现我国部分环境监测站在水质监测的实际操作、试样前处理、监测分析方法选择及数据分析等方面尚存在一些技术问题。在分析这些问题的同时,提出了解决办法和完善我国质量保证指标体系的建议。     

Liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry for the speciation of tin in seafoods

Liquid chromatography with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry as the detection system was applied to the separation and determination of inorganic tin, tributyltin, dibutyltin, monobutyltin, diphenyltin and monophenyltin. A reversed phase C18 column and a methanol/water/acetic acid (70:27:3, v/v/v) mixture containing 0.05%(v/v) triethylamine and 0.1%(w/v) tropolone as the mobile phase (isocratic elution) were used. Extraction of organotins from the samples was carried out using methanol containing 0.05%(w/v) tropolone, a process that was repeated twice. The supernatants were shaken with water and dichloromethane in a separating funnel and the organic phase was collected and evaporated to dryness. When the method was applied to the speciation of tin in fresh and canned mussels, no organotins above the detection limits were identified in any of the samples, inorganic tin being the only species detected. The reliability of the procedure was checked by analyzing the total tin content of the samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and by speciation of tin in a certified reference material, mussel tissue (CRM 477). The method can be used for environmental monitoring of organotins contaminated samples.     

新空气质量标准实施后空气质量自动监测质保审核的建立探讨

根据上海市空气自动监测网络由市级中心站负责子站和区/县级监测站自建子站共同组成和两级管理的结构特点,上海自2006年开始实施对空气自动监测子站的年度质保审核,并在实践中持续改进和完善。以上海为例对新环境空气质量标准实施和AQI实时发布背景下完整的空气质量自动监测QA/QC体系中的质保审核的建立实施及其效果进行讨论。     

Quality assurance of imposex and intersex measurements in marine snails

Collaboration between the QUASIMEME and BEQUALM projects has proved to be an effective mechanism to further the development of quality assurance procedures for the measurement of the biological effects of tributyltin (imposex and intersex) to meet the requirements of international and national marine monitoring programmes. The data arising from the Laboratory Performance Studies are demonstrating the level of agreement between laboratories, suggesting factors leading to differences between laboratories, and guiding the development of QA procedures.     

Quality control and quality assurance for particle size distribution measurements at an urban monitoring station in Augsburg, Germany

Long-term observations of atmospheric constituents such as aerosol particles are increasingly needed to assess their impact on climate and human health. In contrast to particle mass concentration (MC), there are currently no standardized quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures for the measurement of particle size distribution (PSD). This study describes some fundamental QC and QA procedures associated with the collection and evaluation of a 2 year dataset between 2005 and 2006 at an urban background monitoring site in Augsburg, Germany. The considered parametres include ambient PSD between 3 nm and 10 microm (merged from a twin differential mobility and an aerodynamic particle sizer, TDMPS and APS, respectively) as well as total particle number (TNC), length (LC) and MC determined by independent instruments. The hourly 1st and 0th moment of PSD showed good correlations with the independently measured LC (R(2) = 0.86) and TNC (R(2) = 0.79), respectively, the deviation for LC with 4% and for TNC with 22% being rather small. The volume concentration (3rd moment) of hourly measured PSD and the resultant MC (when assuming a realistic apparent density of 1.5 g cm(-3)) correlated well with the independently measured MC of PM(2.5) or PM(10) (R(2) > 0.86) and showed only small deviation from PM(2.5) (1%) or PM(10) (5%), respectively. The study demonstrates that the described QC and QA measures define both a high accuracy of the PSD measurements and their long-term comparability against data obtained in similar measurement programmes.     

水环境应急快速监测QA/QC技术体系探讨

针对目前国家缺乏应急监测质量管理相关技术规定情况,重点研究了水环境应急监测的QA/QC技术,通过对应急备战状态和应急实战状态两大环节9个要素的操作层面的探讨,初步形成了一套较为系统实用的水环境应急监测的QA/QC技术体系.     

The role of metadata and strategies to detect and control temporal data bias in environmental monitoring of soil contamination

It is crucial for environmental monitoring to fully control temporal bias, which is the distortion of real data evolution by varying bias through time. Temporal bias cannot be fully controlled by statistics alone but requires appropriate and sufficient metadata, which should be under rigorous and continuous quality assurance and control (QA/QC) to reliably document the degree of consistency of the monitoring system. All presented strategies to detect and control temporal data bias (QA/QC, harmonisation/homogenisation/standardisation, mass balance approach, use of tracers and analogues and control of changing boundary conditions) rely on metadata. The Will Rogers phenomenon, due to subsequent reclassification, is a particular source of temporal data bias introduced to environmental monitoring here. Sources and effects of temporal data bias are illustrated by examples from the Swiss soil monitoring network. The attempt to make a comprehensive compilation and assessment of required metadata for soil contamination monitoring reveals that most metadata are still far from being reliable. This leads to the conclusion that progress in environmental monitoring means further development of the concept of environmental metadata for the sake of temporal data bias control as a prerequisite for reliable interpretations and decisions.     

市和区县两级环境空气自动监测数据审核系统在上海的应用

由上海市环境监测中心和软件公司共同开发的市和区县两级环境空气自动监测数据审核系统,主要由区县监测站负责辖区自动监测数据的一级审核,市级监测站承担二级审核的责任。作为环境空气质量保证/质量控制体系的重要一环,新系统的建立极大地提高了上海市环境空气自动监测数据的有效性和数据质量。     

Retrospective monitoring and inventory of soil contamination in relation to systematic monitoring

Retrospective monitoring of soil contamination has been performed in the Czech Republic. This kind of monitoring is based on the comparison of the heavy metals content in soil samples taken during a systematic soil survey (1960–1970) and in samples taken at the present time. The anticipated high degree of soil pollution in the Czech Republic has not been proved. Most of the contaminated soils were found to be loaded just 20–35 years ago. Retrospective monitoring is considered to be an accelerating tool for determining the strategy of the systematic monitoring of soil contamination. This procedure stimulated the development of the multi-step system of soil loading limits.     

国控重点污染源监督监测数据QA/QC量化评估体系探讨

阐述了建立国控重点污染源监督监测数据质量QA/QC量化评估体系的重要性和迫切性,从国控污染源QA/QC量化评估体系建设的基本思路、量化评估指标的组成、量化评估指标的权重及QL阈值等方面,对国控重点污染源监督监测数据质量QA/QC量化评价体系的建立进行探讨。     

中国环境空气质量监测现状与发展

中国的环境空气质量监测经过20多年的发展,已经进入到自动监测阶段。完善城市空气自动监测系统、区域监测系统、质量保证、质量控制和监测项目,以及实现地级以上城市空气质量预报等是下一阶段的主要发展目标。     

海洋水质在线监测系统中硝酸盐测量方法比较

硝酸盐是海洋水质监测的重要指标,目前在海洋水质在线监测系统中搭载的硝酸盐在线分析仪的种类较多,采用的测量原理也不尽相同.选取了 3种采用不同测量方法的代表性硝酸盐分析仪[氯化钒还原比色法硝酸盐分析仪、二乙烯三胺五乙酸还原比色法(DTPA)硝酸盐分析仪、紫外分光光度法硝酸盐分析仪],结合各自的测量原理、化学试剂特性等,就...     

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence systems as analytical tool for assessment of contaminated soils

To determine the heavy metal content in soil samples at contaminated locations, a static and time consuming procedure is used in most cases. Soil samples are collected and analyzed in the laboratory at high quality and high analytical costs. The demand by government and consultants for a more dynamic approach and by customers requiring performances in which analyses are performed in the field with immediate feedback of the analytical results, is growing. Especially during the follow-up of remediation projects or during the determination of the sampling strategy, field analyses are advisable. For this purpose four types of ED-XRF systems, ranging from portable up to high performance laboratory systems, have been evaluated. The evaluation criteria are based on the performance characteristics for all the ED-XRF systems such as limit of detection, accuracy and the measurement uncertainty on one hand, and also the influence of the sample pretreatment on the obtained results on the other hand. The study proved that the field portable system and the bench top system, placed in a mobile van, can be applied as field techniques, resulting in semi-quantitative analytical results. A limited homogenization of the analyzed sample significantly increases the representativeness of the soil sample. The ED-XRF systems can be differentiated by their limits of detection which are a factor of 10 to 20 higher for the portable system. The accuracy of the results and the measurement uncertainty also improved using the bench top system. Therefore, the selection criteria for applicability of both field systems are based on the required detection level and also the required accuracy of the results.     

我国污染场地含水层监测现状与技术研发趋势

通过分析我国污染场地含水层监测现状和污染场地环境管理需求,指出我国污染场地含水层监测的不足之处并探讨了我国污染场地含水层监测技术研发趋势.当前,我国污染场地含水层监测主要以地下水监测为主,且监测仪器设备简陋陈旧、技术手段落后,不能满足数量日益增长的污染场地环境管理需求,急需发展一批新型、高效、经济、实用的监测技术和监测...     

A phycocyanin probe as a tool for monitoring cyanobacteria in freshwater bodies

In many countries, the presence of cyanobacteria in freshwater bodies used for both drinking water and recreational purposes is under increasing public health attention. Water managers are considering how to implement monitoring that leads to a minimization of the risks incurred by the users of potentially contaminated sites. To address this question, this study involved assessing the performance of a submersible probe for measuring phycocyanin-specific fluorescence as a function of cyanobacterial biomass, with the aim of applying it as a tool for surveillance management. Its advantages and limits compared to more traditional analyses are discussed. The monitoring of cyanobacteria in the water bodies of western France was carried out using a minifluorimeter specific to the fluorescence of phycocyanin, a pigment specific to cyanobacteria. The results are compared with the analyses recommended by the World Health Organisation (chlorophyll a and cell counting). This study based on nearly 800 samples shows a significant correlation between the phycocyanin content and the cyanobacterial biomass, expressed as the number of cells per mL (R2 = 0.73). This submersible probe is simple and rapid to use, making it possible to take into account horizontal and vertical heterogeneities in the proliferation growth. In this way, we are able to detect at an early stage the conditions that could potentially lead to a risk, in order to start sampling. Due to its sensitivity, this tool proves suitable for monitoring aimed at reducing the risks incurred by the users of contaminated sites and launching preventative actions. The use of the phycocyanin probe provides an effective tool to complement traditional analyses of cyanobacterial presence. It is suggested that a surveillance protocol based on phycocyanin concentration can significantly improved the accuracy of the extent of cyanobacterial bloom development in the light of spatial and temporal variabilities associated with these occurrences.