Standard soil sample preparation error and comparison of portable XRF to laboratory AA analytical results

A method to quantify and report error in the preparation and analysis of st andard samples is developed. The process of constructing standard samples f or use in work involving metal contamination of soil is reviewed. Error in the constructed concentration is determined as a function of electronic bal ance accuracy and precision, sample mass, and desired concentration. Typica l results are presented for the construction of a suite of samples. Distrib ution of error in the analysis of standard sample concentrations by field p ortable X-ray fluorescence and laboratory atomic absorption is also investi gated using six populations of constructed standards involving lead contami nation. Typical construction error and observed analytical error are report ed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.