Current Perspectives in Site Remediation and Monitoring: Applying the Concept of Effective Data to Environmental Analyses for Contaminated Sites

Analytical chemistry methods can be classified as “definitive methods” or “screening methods.” Environmental decision-makers and practitioners frequently make a simplifying assumption that definitive analytical methods generate “definitive data,” while screening methods generate “screening data.” The pervasiveness of this incorrect assumption inhibits the development and application of more cost-effective strategies for environmental sampling and analysis at contaminated sites. Adopting the concept of “effective data” could promote the cost-saving advantages of modern measurement and monitoring options in the context of contaminated site cleanup, while ensuring the reliability of site cleanup decisions. This concept embodies the principle that the information value of data (i.e., data quality) depends heavily upon the interaction between sampling design, analytical design, and the intended use of the data. Considering site-specific conditions, sample support, quality control, and data documentation assure the scientific defensibility of effective data. When the interplay of these factors is understood, screening methods can play important roles in generating data that are effective for making defensible project decisions, while simultaneously improving the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of site restoration activities.