Insider censoring: Distortion of data with nondetects

Abstract

Environmental data often include low-level concentrations below reporting limits. These data may be reported as "<RL," where RL is one of several types of reporting limits. Some values also may be reported as a single number, but flagged with a qualifier (J-values) to indicate a difference in precision as compared to values above the RL. A currently used method for reporting censored environmental data called "insider censoring" produces a strong upward bias, while also distorting the shape of the data distribution. This results in inaccurate estimates of summary statistics and regression coefficients, distorts evaluations of whether data follow a normal distribution, and introduces inaccuracies into risk assessments and models. Insider censoring occurs when data measured as below the detection limit (<DL) are reported as less than the higher quantitation limit (<QL), whereas values between the DL and QL are reported as individual numbers. Three unbiased alternatives to insider censoring are presented so that laboratories and their data users can recognize, and remedy, this problem.