Bias highlighting in the acquisition of pesticide concentration in soil solution

Abstract

A variety of sources can specifically create uncertainty and/or bias in scientific process and stage of acquisition measurement data when in situ data acquisition is considered. From the sequence of data acquisition in an experimental site and a bibliographic review of possible biases, a set of experiments is proposed to quantify the global bias in the measurement of pesticide concentration. The analysis begins with the data which wants to be initially measured by instrumentation use and ends with the data finally presented. The data acquisition is then chronologically analysed in steps, describing the data states between which bias may exist. The study specifically focuses on the data with regard to the pesticide concentration in soil solution. Large biases, have been found, depending on the compound's passage through ceramic cups or during storage. These losses can be respectively attributed to the adsorption and screening processes, and the adsorption and transformation reaction, the intensity of which varies according to the sensitivity of compounds for these processes. Advice and solutions to minimize the bias that occurred in the studies are then provided (change in device or strategy, pesticide rejection, data correction). The general study and acceptance of the notion of bias are finally advocated.

Keywords:

• Data quality
• Bias
• Pesticide concentration
• Sampling
• Suction cups

Notes

§ Present address: Instituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Sezione Chimica Vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84–29100 Piacenza, Italy.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicolas Domange§

§ Present address: Instituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Sezione Chimica Vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84–29100 Piacenza, Italy.