Presentation of Data Tables

A useful method of recording numerical data is in the form of a table. All tables should have a title that adequately describes the data presented (they may need to be numbered so that they can be quoted in the text). It is important to display the components of the table such that it allows direct comparison of data and to allow the reader to easily understand the significance of the results. It is normal to tabulate data in the form of columns and rows, with columns running vertically and rows horizontally. Columns contain, for example, details of concentration and units, sampling sites or properties measured, while rows contain numerical or written descriptions for the columns. The first column often contains the independent variable data, e.g. concentration or site location, while subsequent columns may contain numerical values of concentrations for different metals or organics. A typical tabulated set of data obtained from an experiment to determine the level of lead in soil by using atomic absorption spectroscopy is shown in Table 1.4. 

It is important when tabulating or graphing (see below) data to not quote values to more significant figures than is necessary. 

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Biomonitoring results can be interpreted at different levels of complexity (Figure 5-1). The reference-range approach represents the least complex level. It is only descriptive, offering a statistical presentation of data (Tables 5-2 and 5-3) for comparison with data from other populations or individuals but with no conclusions about risk potential. However, this approach is often the first stage in the more complex risk-related analyses discussed in the remainder of the chapter. 

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