When it comes to accurate chemical measurements, few countries in the world measure up. This has serious implications for drug testing in sport, ensuring the quality of our food and minerals exports remains high, and measuring pollution in our water and air.
Dr Laurie Besley of CSIRO's National Measurement Laboratory says that the lack of international benchmarks for standards of chemical measurement is a major issue facing international metrologists (metrology is the science of measurement). At this stage there is no system that ensures accuracy between nations.
Although the quality of Australia's analytical chemists is as high as anywhere in the world, there has been disturbing evidence that crucial measurements may be in error without anybody knowing, he says.
"A recent international comparison of measurement of low levels of metals in water involved over 150 laboratories in about 30 countries, including Australia. Each measured the level of 14 different metals in two standard aqueous solutions."
"The results were horrifyingly bad. Many participants had grossly underestimated the uncertainty of their measurements," Dr Besley said.
"Another study looked at lead levels in the North Sea over the past 50 years. At first it looks as if the results show that levels are falling. However because the data is uncertain, the results are close to meaningless," Dr Besley said.
"Every major national measurement institute in Europe has begun a program in the area over the last 5 - 10 years. Large sums of money are being invested around the world to address the situation."
"This pattern is reflected in many countries - in the Americas, in Asia and in Africa - and, you guessed it, is now having an impact right here in Australia," Dr Besley said.
In 1995 a national committee was formed to report to the Australian Government on Australia's standards infrastructure. The result was that CSIRO's National Measurement Laboratory (NML) has been charged with the task of providing Australia with a system that will ensure accuracy in chemical measurements.
Dr Besley is giving a talk today at the Metrology Society of Australia, conference, MSA 97, about what NML will be doing to remedy the situation.
"We are planning our own programme of activity. A combination of techniques is needed to establish internationally accepted standards. NML will work with Australia's new National Analytical Reference Laboratory to establish and disseminate chemical measurement standards in Australia," Dr Besley says.
MSA 97 is an international conference that will bring together experts in metrology from industry, government, universities and the NML.
Other delegates will discuss measurement in sport, especially during the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, measurement and inspection in the automobile industry and keeping Australia on time. The Conference will take place November 26 - 28, Old Arts Building, Melbourne University.
Session time: Wednesday, November 26 at 2.30pm.
More information:
Dr Laurie Besley 0419 550 393 (during the conference)
or 02 9413 7770 (office)