How can you address bias in water quality monitoring?

é de extrema importancia realizar a coleta de maneira adequada para evitar a contamina??o cruzada, até mesmo de quem está realizando a coleta. Utilizar laboratório para analise certificado na ISO 17025, para dar credibilidade na amostra. Verificar na licen?a ou legisla??o ou política interna a periodicidade.

Based on our experience with 3D simulation of water treatment systems, realising that these systems are huge in volume, and hence are not completely mixed is helpful. Because, if you take a sample at a certain location, you will be aware that this sample is not a representation of the real concentration. In some cases, this will not impact conclusions. In other cases, however, this can have a major impact. So hence, checking the sensitivity of sampling (or measurement) location in your system, such as a water basin, bioreactor, settler, .... is likely to improve the quality of your reasoning.

Sampling bias is also when samples are taken in locations that are not representative of the real situations and therefore provide misleading data. Some Disinfection by products im potable water, for instance, are generated only after some time downstream the injection point. These would be non detectable if the sample is taken in a non correct location.

Um ponto importante a ser considerado na mensura??o, é que o sistema de medi??o precisa ser confiável, ou seja, deve apresentar resultado próximo ao real e com pouca varia??o. Pensando nisso, uma estratégia interessante é a realiza??o de estudos de MSA. Apesar de ser mais utilizado na indústria, esse conjunto de estudos estatísticos pode ser adequado para diversas áreas, e garante a confiabilidade da medi??o, mesmo com altera??es de instrumentos e pessoas.

Determining the right frequency and timing to sample in order to avoid sampling bias for water quality monitoring is very important as some parameters are affected by sunlight, temperature, seasons and other factors. In order to get representative samples, you also have to ensure that the sample is well mixed, so we would often look for locations where there is natural mixing of the water like a funnel point in a river, etc. Sampling resources is also an important factor. Thankfully we now have auto samplers that can minimise some of the manual work required and also collect composite samples / timed interval samples.

Lidar com o viés do monitoramento da qualidade da água requer uma abordagem sistemática e a implementa??o de boas práticas ao longo de todo processo, desde a coleta de amostra até a análise e interpreta??o dos resultados. O viés da mensura??o refere-se a erros sistemáticos que ocorrem durante o processo de medi??o ou avalia??o de variáveis. Esses erros podem distorcer os resultados de uma pesquisa, estudo ou experimento.

A good rule that we have adopted is that we keep records of everything, maintenance of equipment records, change of calibration stock solution, batch information, analyst ID, etc. This will help enormously when trying to determine the validity of a suspicious result as it can reveal patterns in the anomalous data.

Also consider to ensure good quality and proper storage of the media and other substances used in the water biological and chemical analysis. Pay further attention to some details including the samples proper and clear coding, samples tracking and results recording to avoid potential mistakes when handling the samples vs. recording and reporting the results of the different samples belong to different customers

Equipe treinada, local higienizado, todos com conhecimento, mesmo assim deu uma divergência que as demais amostragem, solicite a contra prova e se ainda n?o estiver contente fa?a uma nova coleta. Esses dados s?o de extrema importancia para uso humano ou produtivo.

In many countries (including the US); State water quality monitoring has been augmented by volunteer monitoring programs throughout the United States. Although a significant effort has been put forth by volunteers, questions remain as to whether volunteer data are accurate and can be used by regulators. In a study in 2010 Volunteer water quality measurements were successful in identifying and classifying most of the waters which violated the United States` Environmental Protection Agency recommended water quality criteria for total nitrogen (66%) and for total phosphorus (52%) with the accuracy improving when accounting for error and biases in the volunteer data.

Realize sua análise sempre em laboratórios credenciados e se possível com ISO 17025. A chance de erro reduz, sendo uma maneira estratégica de evitar problemas. Custo X benefício.

Sometimes, bias is such an inevitable output you might have during the process. Especially, for sampling that related with the specific-customized objective in a research. But then, I realized that 'bias' also an outcome that has its own nature. We just did not expect that in advance. When it comes to research, I think we can sharpen our definition of which ones considered bias and which ones we should clean from our dataset. Statistical approach to bias is good to perform preliminary assessment, but those outliers sometimes can speak itself when we deepen and reconfirm to the very source of the data. Surprising insight might sparks your research journey afterwards.

Analysis bias can arise when the methods of analyzing water samples are not accurate or consistent. To mitigate this bias, it is essential that laboratories use validated and standardized analysis methods. In addition, it is important that these methods are applied consistently across all samples. Furthermore, ongoing training and certification of laboratory technicians can help minimize human errors that can introduce bias. It is also useful to perform quality control analyses, such as repeating analyses and using control samples, to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the results. Transparency in the documentation and communication of analysis methods and results is essential to allow for review and replication by other researchers.

Yes definitely bias coming in analysis procedure . When we perform the water testing in laboratories the chemical titration calculations chemical preparation all are affecting the measurements and result . Through digital meters and spectrophotometer instruments the wavelength properties of water characteristics. The modeling graphs data calibration all are affected the results

It should also be noted that the application of standardized methods does not relief the analysing personnel to take into account that novel or so far unnoticed contaminants can exist and can influence analysis. For example the occurence of medication and medication degradation products in waste water of large cities has been detected by chance, as a scientist did investigate an unexpected peak in his chromatogram.

Para confirmar os dados utilize sempre a legisla??o, é similar a um exame de sangue. Cada parametro tem seu limite aceitável. N?o fa?a nada fora de norma, sempre esteja alinhado com a legisla??o vigente.

Always use external lab to have certified analysis report. Make sure external lab are using same analysis standard to avoid any issue in confirming the analysis report.

Concuerdo en que es de vital importancia realizar la toma de muestras procurando garantizar la mayor trazabilidad de las mismas, esto con el fin de evitar divergencias o resultados poco coherentes con la realidad

Os viés de confirma??o pode ocorrer em várias áreas da vida, incluindo ciência, política, religi?o, rela??es interpessoais e tomadas de decis?es. Para mitigar esse viés, é importante adotar práticas conscientes, como buscar ativamente informa??es divergentes, considerar múltiplas perspectivas, manter uma mente aberta e estar ciente de como nossas cren?as podem influenciar nossas interpreta??es. Além disso, processos de revis?o por pares, abordagens científicas rigorosas e a promo??o de uma cultura de questionamento e ceticismo podem ajudar a minimizar o impacto do viés de confirma??o.

A comprehensive grasp of the water quality guidelines applicable to the region where sampling occurs is crucial for accurately evaluating fieldwork results. Any anomalies observed in the field data serve as indicators to assess the confidence level in the data's reliability for use.

Publication bias can occur when research outcomes influence the decision to publish, leading to an incomplete representation of the available evidence. Mitigate it by encouraging the publication of diverse study outcomes, regardless of statistical significance. Promote pre-registration of studies to reduce selective reporting. Journals can play a role by accepting studies based on methodological rigor rather than results. Meta-analyses that include unpublished data can also help address publication bias.

Veja se você tem a necessidade de publicar, se sim fa?a de maneira correta e alinhada com o marketing. Se for só anexar no processo de licen?a utilize o sistema e abaste?a com os dados.

Also ensure to describe and document the methodology you followed very clearly in the publication document so that it allows your readers to understand and judge the outcomes you came up with

Maintaining scientific publications by observing unique publications in each specialty is considered a very important privilege in that profession.

Toute production intellectuelle doit être protégée, néanmoins les résultats des recherches doivent être accessibles à tous et transcrit dans une version simple et compréhensible pour les non initiés.

As normas normas de portabilidade constituem-se como referências técnicas que imprimem um padr?o de qualidade ao "produto" água, seja ele obtido diretamente da natureza (sem tratamento ou água bruta) ou por meio de processos químicos em plantas de tratamento. Entretanto, a simples existência de normas reguladoras n?o assegura a certifica??o e a manuten??o de padr?es de qualidade para os domínios sanitário e econ?mico. Esse conjunto de valores normativos e o seu cumprimento como lei precisam ser continuamente discutidos por toda a sociedade civil, pelos gestores públicos e o meio científico, a fim de que se assegure uma maior amplitude e legitimidade do processo.

O viés ético é um dos mais importantes viés a serem considerados no processo de monitoramento de qualidade da água e de seus estudos. Na pesquisa é importante praticar a arte do conhecimento na busca de melhorias das técnicas do monitoramento de qualidade da água, esquecendo a vaidade e a busca pelo interesse próprio. No ambito privado, as empresas e órg?os responsáveis pelo monitoramento devem se pautar nas exigências legais, prezando pelo cumprimento integral de tais legisla??es, garantindo que o monitoramento da qualidade da água reflete sua condi??o e n?o somente atende aos padr?es definidos na legisla??o.

Maintaining ethics in every scientific issue is considered a necessity. The fact that you maintain environmental ethics in the issue of environment is equivalent to human ethics.

Cada vez evidencio más en los monitoreos de calidad del agua la infinita necesidad de cumplir con la norma a través de prácticas o actividades que podríamos considerar maquillaje sobre la realidad del vertimiento de los puntos. Proveedores e incluso clientes para garantizar los muestreos cumplan, realizan lavados de tubería el día anterior, o piden los días de muestreo no hacer ninguna actividad de las que normalmente si realizan, prácticas que se alejan mucho de la realidad del vertimiento y la calidad del agua.

Como perito ambiental y especialista en litigios relacionados con contaminación he visto el sesgo ético presentarse en diversas fases del trabajo, desde la selección de ubicaciones de muestreo hasta la interpretación de resultados, pasando por la manipulación de muestras. Es por eso que como profesionales debemos incorporar el enfoque ético a nuestros procedimientos y así lograr transparencia en la toma de decisiones y minimización de conflictos de interés.

To address bias in water quality monitoring as an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professional, ensure diverse representation in monitoring teams, use standardized protocols, regularly calibrate equipment, and validate data through independent verification processes. Additionally, prioritize community engagement to gather local insights and enhance the overall accuracy and fairness of monitoring efforts.

Proficiency in sampling methods and a clear understanding of sampling objectives are essential elements to prevent bias in any project. The project leader holds the responsibility of training staff adequately and establishing precise objectives for those conducting the work.

By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the parameters being investigated. Personal experience: water storage facilities that are prone to diurnal in and out flows. Hence, parameters, such as DO and Chlorine Residuals can be biased by the time of day sampling. Also, the classic is pond waters where algae influence the pH and DO by sunlight and hence time of day sampling.

La ma?trise des méthodes d’échantillonnage et d’analyses devrait s’accompagner d’objectifs d’échantillonnage clairs pour que les éléments essentiels soient considérés à bon escient.

As per my experience with different water quality problems, depending on the pollutant, source pattern, and influence of environmental variables/factors need to be considered before bias correction.