Abstract
In environmental studies, decisions are often made on the analytical data indicating certain contaminants as being 'detected' or 'non-detectible.' Since detection limits are analytical method specific, one has to first review the concepts and definitions associated with analytical method systems and specifications. In this study, the experimental analytical values for a series of low level standards (for an ionic species) were used as an example to estimate two different method detection limits (MDL). The scores of EPA's MDL and Pallesen's MDL determined by real analytical scores are 0.0575 and 0.0561 mg/L, respectively for our nitrate data. These scores determined by two different MDL models are roughly similar, while there are apparent differences between two methods with respect to statistical and systematical procedure. However, determination of MDL for one's laboratory provides some practical applications which helps to assure one's regulating authorities that one's measured scores are accurate.
