Standard Practice for Characterizing Uncertainty in Air Quality Measurements

Importancia y uso:

6.1 A primary use intended for this practice is for qualifying ASTM International Standards as Standard Test Methods. In the past, a “Precision and Bias” report has been required. However, recently a statement of uncertainty has become an acceptable alternative to Guide D3670. Inclusion of such a statement with a method description simplifies comparison of ASTM Test Methods to analogous ISO and Committee for European Normalization (CEN) standards, now required to have uncertainty statements.

6.2 Standardizing the characterization of sampling/analytical method performance is expected to be useful in other applications as well. For example, performance details are a necessity for justifying compliance decisions based on experimental air quality assessments (7). Documented uncertainty can form a basis for specific criteria defining acceptable sampling/analytical method performance.

6.3 Furthermore, high quality atmospheric measurements are vital for making decisions as to how hazardous substances are to be controlled. Valid data are required for drawing reasonable epidemiological conclusions, for making sound decisions as to acceptable limits, as well as for determining the efficacy of a hazard control system.

6.4 Finally, because of developing world-wide acceptance of ISO GUM for detailing measurements when statistics are simple, the practice should be useful in comparing ASTM International Test Methods to other published methods. The codification of statistical procedures may in fact minimize the difficulty in interpreting a plethora of individual, albeit possibly valid, approaches.

Subcomité:

D22.01

Referida por:

D7911-19, D7439-21, D4532-22, D7659-21, E3203-24A, D7035-21

Volúmen:

11.07

Número ICS:

13.040.20 (Ambient atmospheres)

Palabras clave:

air quality; characterizing uncertainty; measurements;