The value of the right rather than accurate measurement in characterising contaminated sites

Characterisation of contaminated sites involves the collection and analysis of samples to inform understanding of the potential risks to human health and environment from contamination present on the site. Current policy and guidelines places much emphasis on evaluation of Data Quality Indicators (DQIs) and advocates use of NATA accredited methods by the laboratory. In the quest for accurate measurement of small sub-samples collected from bulk media effort is focused on minimising concentration measurement uncertainty. This focus on DQIs often leads to simplifying assumptions as to what the concentration data can mean in the real world. Often these simplifying assumptions are not borne out in reality leading to cost and time overruns in remediation. (author)