QA/QC FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL
MEASUREMENT
Unit 4: Module 13, Lecture 1

QA/QC for environmental measurement

http:/water.usgs.gov/

What is quality

assurance (QA)?
a broad plan for

maintaining quality in all

aspects of a program
- Keith et al. (1983)

establishes the need for

quality control (QC)

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QA/QC for environmental measurement

Quality control refers to

routine technical activities

the purpose of which is
to control error

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02hud
son/logs/aug29/aug29.html

QC can be considered the

HOW of the QA process

applicable to field, lab and

office procedures

http://www.jmg.gov.my/Client_s_Charter/client_s_
charter.html

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QA for environmental measurement

Why do we need quality assurance for

environmental measurement?
understand data reliability
quantify areas of analytical uncertainty
standardize measurement to allow for repeatable
and comparable data across time and place

QA ensures that data will meet defined standards of

quality with a standard level of confidence
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QA for environmental assessment

Need for consistency

- monitoring a copper
impacted stream
Is this problem

getting worse or is
being mitigated?
How can you tell?
Why is standardized
measurement so
important?
http://www.darcnw.noaa.gov/bbpix.htm

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Where is QA applicable?
Who in the environmental arena uses quality

assurance measures and when is it necessary?

nearly all REGULATORY decisions about:

issuing permits, monitoring human health and

environmental quality, pollution investigations
and the progress of site remediation are based
on one thing -- the data gathered from the site.

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Where is QA applicable?
What other

environmental
arenas utilize quality
assurance
measures?
laboratories
universities and
research
organization

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Where is QA applicable?
Non-research areas utilize environmental QA

measures also
business and industry
lobbying groups and special interests
legislators
lawyers
others

http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/News/060297.html

http://gov.state.nv.us/Sp
ecialSession
072902.asp

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Quality assurance vs. quality control

Quality Assurance

(QA)
broad program plan
establishes the need
for QC

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Quality Controls (QC)

individual checks

and balances
the HOW of QA

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Where is QC applicable?
Quality control is applicable in all aspects of a

project including:

Field data collection and sampling

Laboratory analysis and processing
Data evaluation and assessment
Reporting and project documentation
QC provides steps that ensure data will meet defined
standards of quality with a standard level of confidence
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QC in the field
QC is particularly critical in filed data collection
often the most costly aspect of a project
data is never reproducible under the exact same

condition or setting

http://climchange.cr.usgs.gov/info/lacs/wate
rsampling.htm

sechi readings
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

field filtration
Updated: June 14, 2005

http://www.fe.doe.gov/techline/tl_h
ydrates_oregon.shtml

logging sea cores

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QC in the field
Standardized field

method programs
US Army Corps of
Engineers
ASTM methods
USGS classification
APHA
AIHA
NIST

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QC in the laboratory
Laboratory data analysis, measurement and

acquisition:
Chain of custody forms
Equipment calibration
Storage practices
Analytical methods
Holding times
MDLs

www.odc.gov/noeh/dls

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QC in the laboratory
Standardized

laboratory method
programs
EPA Methods
State Modified
Methods
APHA Methods
ASTM
AIHA

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QC in the office
In office planning, data evaluation and

summation of results:
QAPP quality assurance
project plan outlines all
project management
assessment and oversight
data validation

http://www.va.gov/optometry/page.cfm?pg=4

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

www.cr.nps.gov/aad/collections/ mgt_pr.htm

Photo from MN DNR

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QC for environmental measurement

Why do we need quality control?
To prevent errors from happening
To identify and correct errors that have taken

place

QC is used to PREVENT and CORRECT ERRORS

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QC: Internal vs. external measures

Internal quality control
controllable by those responsible for

undertaking the project or directly involved in

the program

External quality control

a set of measures established for and

conducted by those people and organizations

outside of the program

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Quality control (QC): Internal

Internal Quality Control:
Equipment calibration
Proper training and

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb1001.htm

certification of participants
Proper sampling and
containment techniques
Proper data documentation

http://il.water.usgs.gov/adcp/photos/class_apr99.html

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Quality control (QC): External

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb1001.htm

External quality

control:
Performance audits
Split sample analysis
Replicate (duplicate)
sample analysis

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/novdec98/seven.htm

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)

A quality assurance

project plan (QAPP) is a

project-specific QA
document.

The QAPP outlines the

QC measures used in
implementing the
project.

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)

The QAPP governs work conducted in the field,

laboratory, and the office.

The QAPP:
guides the selection of project parameters and

procedures
guides data management and analysis
provides steps to determine the validity of
specific sampling or analysis procedures
designates both internal and external QC
measures
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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QA/QC: Data objective and key concepts

Successful data collection and analysis is

dependant upon The PARCC Parameters:

Precision
Accuracy
Representativeness
Completeness
Comparability
The key concepts of QA/QC are the
PARCC Parameters the WHY of the QAPP
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Key concepts of QA/QC:

Precision degree of agreement there is

between repeated measurements

of the same characteristic
can be biased meaning there is
a consistent error in the results
Accuracy measures how close data results
are to a true or expected value
does not allow for bias
http://www.d.umn.edu/faculty/ UMD med school

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Key concepts of QA/QC: Accuracy

accuracy = (average

value) (true value)

precision represents
repeatability
bias represents
amount of error

low bias and high

precision = statistical
accuracy

http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/qappexec.html

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Key concept QA/QC: Representativeness

Representativeness extent to which measurements actually represent

the true environmental condition or population at

the time a sample was collected.
Representative data should result in repeatable
data
Does this
represent this??

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0058-99

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Key concepts of QA/QC: Completeness

Completeness comparison between the amount of data

intended to be collected vs. actual amount of

valid (usable) data collected.
In the design of the QAPP will the goals of the
plan meet assessment needs?
Will sufficient data be collected?
Would this give usable data ??

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Key concepts of QA/QC: Comparability

Comparability the extent to which data can be compared

between sample locations or periods of time

within a project, or between projects

Will similar data

from these sites be
Comparable ??
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/publicaffairs/bac
kgrounders/backgrounder_ww.html

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cta/ctasummary.html

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Review: QA vs. QC
Quality Assurance

(QA)
broad program plan
establishes the need
for QC

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Quality Controls (QC)

standardized tests

and methods
the HOW of QA

Updated: June 14, 2005

U5-m13a-s28

Review: Quality Assurance Project Plans

The QAPP is a

project-specific QA
document.
The QAPP outlines
the QC measures to
be taken for the
project.

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

QAPP guides:
the selection of

parameters and
procedures
data management
and analysis
steps taken to
determine the
validity of specific
sampling or analysis
procedures

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Elements of a QAPP
The QAPP governs work conducted in the field,

laboratory, and the office.

QAPP can be broken out into four areas of the

project
Project management (office)
Measurement and data acquisition (field and lab)
Assessment and oversight (field, lab, and office)
Data validation and usability (field, lab, and
office)

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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Review: QA/QC key concepts

The PARCC Parameters are the WHY of

QA/QC and assure successful data analysis:

Precision
Accuracy
Representativeness
Completeness
Comparability
The key concepts and WHY of QA/QC are the
PARCC Parameters
Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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References
EPA 1996, Environmental Protection Agency Volunteer

Monitors Guide to: Quality Assurance Project Plans. 1996.

EPA 841-B-96-003, Sep 1996, U.S. EPA, Office of Wetlands,
Washington, D.C. 20460, USA
http://www.epa.gov/owowwtr1/monitoring/volunteer/qappexe
c.htm

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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http://waterontheweb.org/index.html

Developed by: Zwiebel, Filbin

Updated: June 14, 2005

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