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Field analyses of RDX and TCE in groundwater during a GCW pilot study
Author(s) -
Elmore Andrew C.,
Travaglin Lisa A.,
Triplett Jennifer L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.10054
Subject(s) - comparability , groundwater , environmental science , water quality , field (mathematics) , engineering , mathematics , ecology , geotechnical engineering , combinatorics , pure mathematics , biology
Contaminant concentrations in groundwater are typically analyzed using traditional laboratory analyticalprocedures approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state regulatory agencies. The useof off‐site laboratories provides very high‐quality water quality data at a relatively high cost interms of time and money. Yet there are many instances when it is desirable to have water quality data measured inthe field. The field methods for measuring water quality typically cost much less than the correspondinglaboratory methods. However, the usability of the field data may be uncertain when the results are qualitativelycompared to duplicate laboratory results. Groundwater samples collected during a groundwater circulation wellpilot study were analyzed using field kits to measure concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE) and theexplosive compound known as RDX. A subset of the samples was split for duplicate laboratory analysis. Linearregression analysis and relative percent difference analysis were performed on the duplicate results to evaluatethe comparability of the field and laboratory data. The data analyses were also used to evaluate the concept thatthe field kits were more accurate for specific concentration ranges, as well as the concept the field kit resultswould improve as field personnel gained experience with the field analysis procedures. © 2002 WileyPeriodicals, Inc.