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ABSTRACT
Analytical sciences play an increasingly important role in the decisions taken at a regulatory level, legal or private and this aspect is particularly true when they ere applied to the environment. Indeed, the proven impacts of anthropogenic products on our daily environment and the whole planet keep increasing. For this reason, scientists must provide reliable and warranted tools. The notions of quality and quality assurance must permit analysis satisfaction from the person making the request and the analysts themselves. This article describes the main concepts, definitions and recommendations for this approach in chemical analysis.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Stéphane Roy: Deputy Head of BRGM's Metrology Monitoring Analysis Department - Doctorate in geochemistry and environment from the University of Paris VII
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Jean-Philippe Ghestem: Project Manager, BRGM Metrology Monitoring Analysis Department - Doctorate in air pollution chemistry and environmental physics from Paris VII University - Engineer from the Paris School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (ESPCI)
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Philippe Quevauviller: Executive at the European Commission - Professor at the Free University of Brussels (VUB)
INTRODUCTION
Faced with the increasing impact of man-made products on our daily environment, whether on the surface of the planet, at the bottom of the oceans or in the atmosphere of our cities, our vigilance and determination can only increase as regards the quality of the data we acquire on a daily basis, in all environments and in all matrices. Since we can do little in the short term to influence the level of emissions, it is the duty of scientists to make available to everyone reliable analytical tools enabling us to quantify their impact correctly, in order to better understand any harmful effects and to attempt to predict their potential effects more accurately, in order to combat them more effectively.
These objectives, which call for real, convincing decision-making, are by definition based on "measurements" to be carried out in different environments, in different contexts and often with different technical constraints. For example, analytical techniques developed for polluted sites will not be suitable for estimating diffuse impacts; similarly, protocols for polluted soil or water cannot be used for rapid analysis in the field.
It is therefore crucial to bring "measurement", and the associated analytical chain – including field stages – back into line with the contexts and objectives sought. The aim of this approach is to provide reliable values that will enable a real assessment of impacts, and subsequently lead to calm, accepted decision-making.
This confidence undoubtedly depends on the quality of the data acquired. One of the means developed by analysis laboratories is the principle of Quality Assurance. This Quality Assurance is based on an internationally recognized reference since 2000, the latest version of standard NF EN ISO/CEI 17025 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories – September 2005.
There are many concepts, definitions and recommendations to be considered when dealing with quality and quality assurance in chemical analysis. This chapter is not intended to cover them all in detail. It describes the main concepts, many of which are presented more fully in other chapters of Techniques de l'Ingénieur.
This dossier is an update of the dossier written in 1997 by M. Leroy, A. Boos, E.A. Maier and B. Griepink. Griepink .
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Quality and quality assurance in environmental analytical chemistry
Context
Bibliography
Standards
- Quality management systems – Requirements - [a] ISO 9001 - 2008
- Exigences générales concernant la compétence des laboratoires d'étalonnages et d'essais - [b] NF EN ISO/CEI 17025 - 2005
- International Vocabulary of Metrology – Fundamental and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) - [c] JCGM 200 - 2008
- Water quality – Vocabulary – Part 2, AFNOR - [d] FD ISO 6107-2 - 2006
- Sampling – Part 1: Guidelines...
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