Monitoring program objectives

These considerations require an expanded scope for a monitoring program, involving measurements of ancillary environmental conditions in addition to mercuiy data if the objective is not just to document changes in mercuiy concentrations, but also to gain insight into links between emissions and concentration trends in biota. These issues are addressed in each chapter. 

Ozone and ozone precursor concentrations at nonurban locations in the eastern United States were studied extensively. The three parts of the study were field measurements, a quality assurance program, and an airborne monitoring program. The main objective of the study was to establish a data base for nonurban ozone and precursor concentrations. Simultaneous statistical summaries of the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and nonmethane hydrocarbons were also provided. Another objective was to search for relationships between ozone concentrations and nitrogen dioxide and nonmethane hydrocarbon concentrations. 

In July 1977, following the completion of Project PACER HO dedrumlng and subsequent site clean-up operations at NCBC and Johnston Island, Air force scientists Initiated an extensive site monitoring program. The objectives of this program were ... 

The objective of the microbial monitoring program is to obtain representative estimates of the bioburden of the environment. When data are compiled and analyzed, any trends should be evaluated by trained personnel. While it is important to review environmental results on the basis of recommended and specified frequency, it is also critical to review results over extended periods to determine whether or not trends are present. Trends can be visualized through the construction of statistical control charts that include alert and action levels. The microbial control of controlled environments can be assessed in part on the basis of these trend data. Periodic reports or summaries should be issued to alert the responsible manager [13]. 

The third step is to establish a framework to evaluate the question. When establishing the framework, pharmacists need to know some basic facts about the programs and diseases they are studying. Pharmacists undertaking these projects first should prioritize their objectives by determining what interventions and outcomes most need to be evaluated. For example, Cynthia Marshall may wish to determine the effect of her monitoring program on cost of care (an economic outcome), blood pressure (a clinical outcome), and quality of life (a humanistic outcome). 

One of the most important objectives of any industrial hygiene monitoring program is to accurately interpret air sampling results. The use of statistics in this assessment process is necessary because all measurements of physical properties contain some unavoidable random measurement error. The variation of occupational exposure measurements is an argument for statistical information not against it. (10)(15)... 

General objectives that would justify setting up an environmental monitoring program, described in CRP publication 43, are as follows ... 

The most probable internal exposure pathway for the workers in a radiation controlled area is inhalation of radioactivities in air. The objectives of an air monitoring program in a radiation controlled area are as follows ... 

The primary focus of this study was to address the basic question - How consistent are the radionuchde concentrations in bee samples If one of the primary objectives is to eventually use data collected from honey bees as part of an environmental monitoring program, or more importantly, as input into an ecological risk assessment model, then one would hope there is a certain degree of consistency between samples. In other words, if 25 samples were collected from a beehive, and each one was analyzed for tritium, one would assume there would be relative consistency between the radiochemical analytical results. A large disparity in the concentrations of tritium in bee samples would make the results suspect. In this study, first the consistency of bee samples collected from a single colony was examined. Second, the consistency of samples collected from several colonies in the same location was assessed. 

The development of a rapid on-site immunoassay system with a versatile and easy to use handheld meter provides an objective means of screening for levels of agricultural and environmental chemicals in either a remote site or laboratmy setting. This technology provides a cost effective way to obtain the timely infoimation needed in many crop management and environmental monitoring programs. 

The accruacy required from the measruing system should be determined by the objectives of the sampling program, and by the use of the data. The measmement system should avoid superfluous and expensive accmacy and precision determinations if there is a failme in the monitoring program to meet the stipulated objectives. The analytical measurements must also be rugged and complete. 

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